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Nato alarm at east Ukraine violence Nato alarm at east Ukraine violence
(35 minutes later)
Nato's secretary general has expressed concern over eastern Ukraine, drawing parallels with aspects of last month's seizure of Crimea. Ukraine's president says a full-scale operation involving the army will be launched in the east after pro-Russian militants seized government buildings.
Men reappearing with Russian weapons and identical uniforms without insignia was a "grave development," Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Sunday. Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov said he would not allow a repetition of what happened in Crimea which was annexed by Russia last month.
Pro-Russian forces have targeted half a dozen cities in the region. His live televised address from parliament came after pro-Russian forces targeted half a dozen cities.
Ukrainian authorities launched an "anti-terror operation" after armed men took over the city of Sloviansk. Earlier, Nato's secretary general voiced concern at events in the region.
A Ukrainian officer has been killed in a gun battle in the city, and there are reports the Ukrainian operation has been halted. He drew parallels with some aspects of last month's seizure of Crimea, saying that men reappearing with Russian weapons and identical uniforms without insignia was a "grave development."
Ukrainian authorities said they launched an "anti-terror operation" early on Sunday after armed men took over the city of Sloviansk.
A Ukrainian officer was killed in a gun battle in the city, and there are reports the Ukrainian operation has been halted.
But both sides suffered a number of casualties, interim Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said.But both sides suffered a number of casualties, interim Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said.
As well as Sloviansk, pro-Russian forces have entered a number of other towns and cities, taking or attempting to take control of police and government buildings.
Kiev and Western powers accuse Moscow of intimate involvement in the trouble, but the Kremlin denies the charge.Kiev and Western powers accuse Moscow of intimate involvement in the trouble, but the Kremlin denies the charge.
Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen's statement released on Sunday notes that "the reappearance of men with specialised Russian weapons and identical uniforms without insignia, as previously worn by Russian troops during Russia's illegal and illegitimate seizure of Crimea, is a grave development".Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen's statement released on Sunday notes that "the reappearance of men with specialised Russian weapons and identical uniforms without insignia, as previously worn by Russian troops during Russia's illegal and illegitimate seizure of Crimea, is a grave development".
A Nato source told the BBC the organisation believed that "Russian forces have been involved in the seizure of some of the buildings".A Nato source told the BBC the organisation believed that "Russian forces have been involved in the seizure of some of the buildings".
And the US ambassador to the UN said the attacks on police and other buildings in eastern Ukraine had "telltale signs of Moscow's involvement".And the US ambassador to the UN said the attacks on police and other buildings in eastern Ukraine had "telltale signs of Moscow's involvement".
"It's professional, co-ordinated. Nothing grass roots about it," ambassador Samantha Power told ABC News."It's professional, co-ordinated. Nothing grass roots about it," ambassador Samantha Power told ABC News.
"The forces are doing in each of the six or seven cities they have been active in exactly the same thing.""The forces are doing in each of the six or seven cities they have been active in exactly the same thing."
Turning violentTurning violent
On Saturday, armed men took over police stations and official buildings in Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka.On Saturday, armed men took over police stations and official buildings in Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka.
Similar accounts emerged of armed men dressed in camouflage arriving in buses in Sloviansk and Kramatorsk and storming the police stations.Similar accounts emerged of armed men dressed in camouflage arriving in buses in Sloviansk and Kramatorsk and storming the police stations.
BBC reporters in Sloviansk said the gunmen were well-organised and quickly established control throughout the town. Checkpoints had been set up on the main roads into the town.BBC reporters in Sloviansk said the gunmen were well-organised and quickly established control throughout the town. Checkpoints had been set up on the main roads into the town.
In other developments:In other developments:
Interior Minister Avakov labelled the actions a "display of aggression by Russia".Interior Minister Avakov labelled the actions a "display of aggression by Russia".
Announcing the operation to clear the activists, he warned people to stay in their homes in Sloviansk.Announcing the operation to clear the activists, he warned people to stay in their homes in Sloviansk.
"The separatists are shooting to kill without warning against the approaching special forces," he said,"The separatists are shooting to kill without warning against the approaching special forces," he said,
He later said Ukrainian forces had been attacked at a checkpoint on the way to Sloviansk, and at least one officer had been killed and five others wounded.He later said Ukrainian forces had been attacked at a checkpoint on the way to Sloviansk, and at least one officer had been killed and five others wounded.
An unknown number of militants were also wounded, he said.An unknown number of militants were also wounded, he said.
Witnesses at the police station said there was no sign yet of any clashes, and the centre of the town was quiet.Witnesses at the police station said there was no sign yet of any clashes, and the centre of the town was quiet.
Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population and has seen a series of protests since the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February.Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population and has seen a series of protests since the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February.
Are you in eastern Ukraine? Have you been affected by the unrest? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Ukraine".Are you in eastern Ukraine? Have you been affected by the unrest? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Ukraine".
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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