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| Ukraine crisis: Death and bloodshed as Kiev confronts pro-Russia forces in bloody attempt to retain eastern half of country | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The body of a dead special forces officer, kneeling in a pool of blood beside a shot-up car, was the spectre of what Ukraine faces as cities and towns across an entire region slip out of the government's control, into the shadow of masked gunmen. | The body of a dead special forces officer, kneeling in a pool of blood beside a shot-up car, was the spectre of what Ukraine faces as cities and towns across an entire region slip out of the government's control, into the shadow of masked gunmen. |
| The killing outside Slovyansk and injuries to half-dozen others came in the first armed clash between troops and separatists as the administration in Kiev desperately tried to cling on to the eastern half of the country, after the bitter blow of losing Crimea to the Kremlin. | The killing outside Slovyansk and injuries to half-dozen others came in the first armed clash between troops and separatists as the administration in Kiev desperately tried to cling on to the eastern half of the country, after the bitter blow of losing Crimea to the Kremlin. |
| The developments in the Donbass, with its large ethnic Russian population, also ratcheted up the already high tensions in one of the most severe international crisis in recent times with the West accusing Moscow of blatantly orchestrating an upheaval which threatens to tear apart the security consensus which came at the end of the Cold War. | The developments in the Donbass, with its large ethnic Russian population, also ratcheted up the already high tensions in one of the most severe international crisis in recent times with the West accusing Moscow of blatantly orchestrating an upheaval which threatens to tear apart the security consensus which came at the end of the Cold War. |
| John Kerry telephoned Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister to express "gravest concern" and warn of further sanctions. The US Secretary of State charged that the attacks "were orchestrated and synchronised, similar to attacks in Crimea". Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the armed groups "had reappeared with specialised Russian weapons and identical uniforms without insignia, as previously worn by Russian troops in the illegal seizure of Crimea". William Hague stressed that "Moscow should be clear that the UK will consider any armed Russian presence in eastern Ukraine a further and deliberate escalation." | John Kerry telephoned Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister to express "gravest concern" and warn of further sanctions. The US Secretary of State charged that the attacks "were orchestrated and synchronised, similar to attacks in Crimea". Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the armed groups "had reappeared with specialised Russian weapons and identical uniforms without insignia, as previously worn by Russian troops in the illegal seizure of Crimea". William Hague stressed that "Moscow should be clear that the UK will consider any armed Russian presence in eastern Ukraine a further and deliberate escalation." |
| Mr Lavrov strongly denied the allegations, maintaining instead that it was the result of the Kiev government failing "to take into account the legitimate needs and interests of the Russian and Russian speaking population". He also warned that Moscow may pull out of next week's summit on the crisis if Ukrainian military was used in the trouble spots. | Mr Lavrov strongly denied the allegations, maintaining instead that it was the result of the Kiev government failing "to take into account the legitimate needs and interests of the Russian and Russian speaking population". He also warned that Moscow may pull out of next week's summit on the crisis if Ukrainian military was used in the trouble spots. |
| Away from the rhetoric, events on the ground were following a steady and inexorable pattern with government buildings being taken over by men with Kalashnikovs and balaclavas, barricades rapidly slung up around them, and civilian supporters arriving to form a protective shield. | Away from the rhetoric, events on the ground were following a steady and inexorable pattern with government buildings being taken over by men with Kalashnikovs and balaclavas, barricades rapidly slung up around them, and civilian supporters arriving to form a protective shield. |
| By nightfall, the protestors had overrun key installations in Donetsk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkova, as well as Mariupol and Yenakievo, the home town of Viktor Yanukovych, the president overthrown by the uprising in Kiev. In some areas, like Slovyansk, there were seemingly complete takeovers, with vigilantes blocking off the routes in with concrete blocks, tyres, dead trees and bonfires. | By nightfall, the protestors had overrun key installations in Donetsk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkova, as well as Mariupol and Yenakievo, the home town of Viktor Yanukovych, the president overthrown by the uprising in Kiev. In some areas, like Slovyansk, there were seemingly complete takeovers, with vigilantes blocking off the routes in with concrete blocks, tyres, dead trees and bonfires. |
| There was no sign of Ukrainians protesting at these places. They took to the streets in Kharkiv, the one place where security forces had managed recapture a state office, on Saturday evening and today. The marchers included a group from the ultra-nationalist Right Sector, regarded by their opponents as fascists: clashes took place late in the afternoon, fuelled by reports of events elsewhere, resulting in seven wounded. Pro-Russian armed separatists seize a regional police building | There was no sign of Ukrainians protesting at these places. They took to the streets in Kharkiv, the one place where security forces had managed recapture a state office, on Saturday evening and today. The marchers included a group from the ultra-nationalist Right Sector, regarded by their opponents as fascists: clashes took place late in the afternoon, fuelled by reports of events elsewhere, resulting in seven wounded. Pro-Russian armed separatists seize a regional police building |
| Despite Mr Rasmussen's strictures about "specialised weapons", today's killing was a simple and brutal affair. At around seven in the morning, a taxi, a dark blue Renault, was hijacked, the driver clubbed and dragged out. It was driven to newly arrived security forces who had taken up positions in a wooded area; men clambered out and opened fire with semi-automatic rifles. Soldiers shot back hitting one of the attackers, but sustained injuries themselves; a officer, in dark combat kit of special-forces, lay dead. | Despite Mr Rasmussen's strictures about "specialised weapons", today's killing was a simple and brutal affair. At around seven in the morning, a taxi, a dark blue Renault, was hijacked, the driver clubbed and dragged out. It was driven to newly arrived security forces who had taken up positions in a wooded area; men clambered out and opened fire with semi-automatic rifles. Soldiers shot back hitting one of the attackers, but sustained injuries themselves; a officer, in dark combat kit of special-forces, lay dead. |
| Vladimir Kolodchenko, a council member from nearby Nicolayevka, who saw the attack, reported: "The soldiers were standing by their vehicles. Four men came out of the car and started shooting, then there was more firing, people were getting hurt, it was pretty bad, very worrying." | Vladimir Kolodchenko, a council member from nearby Nicolayevka, who saw the attack, reported: "The soldiers were standing by their vehicles. Four men came out of the car and started shooting, then there was more firing, people were getting hurt, it was pretty bad, very worrying." |
| In Slovyansk, local people refused to accept that separatists had carried out the attacks, blaming agent-provocateurs of the Right Sector. A coach, supposedly of their members, had been driven back on Saturday after approaching a checkpoint of protestors. I saw the passengers the early evening, young men huddled together on the roadside. | In Slovyansk, local people refused to accept that separatists had carried out the attacks, blaming agent-provocateurs of the Right Sector. A coach, supposedly of their members, had been driven back on Saturday after approaching a checkpoint of protestors. I saw the passengers the early evening, young men huddled together on the roadside. |
| "We know it was the fascists; local people would not do something like that, a lot of people knew the driver, they would not beat him up", said Vitaly, a taxi driver. "A lot of the soldiers, and the police, don't want to fight the local people; the aim was to provoke them; it was also to make us look bad to the outside world." | "We know it was the fascists; local people would not do something like that, a lot of people knew the driver, they would not beat him up", said Vitaly, a taxi driver. "A lot of the soldiers, and the police, don't want to fight the local people; the aim was to provoke them; it was also to make us look bad to the outside world." |
| The troops had arrived at dawn in seven armoured personnel carriers. After the gunfight, the convoy approached Slovyansk along two routes, turning back each time when faced by barricades. Later in the afternoon, it headed towards Kharkiv; three helicopters circled overhead, before they, too, disappeared. | The troops had arrived at dawn in seven armoured personnel carriers. After the gunfight, the convoy approached Slovyansk along two routes, turning back each time when faced by barricades. Later in the afternoon, it headed towards Kharkiv; three helicopters circled overhead, before they, too, disappeared. |
| The protestors occupying the police station believed an attack was bound to take place. "They are bringing in reinforcements from other parts, from the west of the country, because frankly, local soldiers and police would not want to fire on their brothers and sisters. We have our informants and we know some of the things that are going on" stated Aleksandr, a former soldier who described himself as one of the heads of security. "They are putting in people all around, at a distance. But you see how we are placed, we'll see them long before they get here." Pro-Russian activists escort a man (unseen) who they say is a provocateur outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk | The protestors occupying the police station believed an attack was bound to take place. "They are bringing in reinforcements from other parts, from the west of the country, because frankly, local soldiers and police would not want to fire on their brothers and sisters. We have our informants and we know some of the things that are going on" stated Aleksandr, a former soldier who described himself as one of the heads of security. "They are putting in people all around, at a distance. But you see how we are placed, we'll see them long before they get here." Pro-Russian activists escort a man (unseen) who they say is a provocateur outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk |
| Were there any Russians among them? "You'd expect me to say no of course, but that is the truth, you may choose not to believe it", Andrei replied. "I don't think there is any need; a lot of weapons have been taken from armouries, a lot of men have experience in the armed forces. " | Were there any Russians among them? "You'd expect me to say no of course, but that is the truth, you may choose not to believe it", Andrei replied. "I don't think there is any need; a lot of weapons have been taken from armouries, a lot of men have experience in the armed forces. " |
| It remains difficult to ascertain what action the government will take. Ukraine's forces are small in numbers and there is certainly evidence, judging by interaction at checkpoints, that many police officers sympathise with protestors. Arsen Avakov, the interior minister, had declared that those taking over buildings were "terrorists" and would be treated as such. | It remains difficult to ascertain what action the government will take. Ukraine's forces are small in numbers and there is certainly evidence, judging by interaction at checkpoints, that many police officers sympathise with protestors. Arsen Avakov, the interior minister, had declared that those taking over buildings were "terrorists" and would be treated as such. |
| But Mr Avakov, who has built up the image of being a hardliner, had made threats before, such as a 48 hour ultimatum for those occupying the administrative headquarters in Donetsk to disarm and surrender; that passed three days ago. A prolific Facebook user, he also provides a daily stream of information, not always accurate. Today he claimed, for example, that the special forces officer had died while approaching the occupied police station. | But Mr Avakov, who has built up the image of being a hardliner, had made threats before, such as a 48 hour ultimatum for those occupying the administrative headquarters in Donetsk to disarm and surrender; that passed three days ago. A prolific Facebook user, he also provides a daily stream of information, not always accurate. Today he claimed, for example, that the special forces officer had died while approaching the occupied police station. |
| The separatist militiamen look upon Mr Avakov with a mixture of distaste and derision. "He wants to write a name for himself in the blood of civilians, women and children, luckily we know the military ignore his orders", claimed Vadim. However, Andrei cautioned: "One needs to be careful, weak men often do rash things to prove themselves." | The separatist militiamen look upon Mr Avakov with a mixture of distaste and derision. "He wants to write a name for himself in the blood of civilians, women and children, luckily we know the military ignore his orders", claimed Vadim. However, Andrei cautioned: "One needs to be careful, weak men often do rash things to prove themselves." |
| Ukraine's acting Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenuyk, on a trip to Donetsk on Friday with a team of ministers to meet local leaders had declared that he wanted a negotiated settlement while insisting that the Kiev government has not lost control of the situation. The visit, however, had to be kept secret due to fear of an attack taking place on the official party. | Ukraine's acting Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenuyk, on a trip to Donetsk on Friday with a team of ministers to meet local leaders had declared that he wanted a negotiated settlement while insisting that the Kiev government has not lost control of the situation. The visit, however, had to be kept secret due to fear of an attack taking place on the official party. |
| "We do not recognise the legitimacy of Yatsenuyk", 59 year old Olga Arbutkova, who had come to offer support to the protest, stated: "Yanukovych did not lose an election, he was not impeached, but they chased him out. There was some stability under Yanukovych, he was a religious man. | "We do not recognise the legitimacy of Yatsenuyk", 59 year old Olga Arbutkova, who had come to offer support to the protest, stated: "Yanukovych did not lose an election, he was not impeached, but they chased him out. There was some stability under Yanukovych, he was a religious man. |
| "But we all want a peaceful solution. All we are asking for is a referendum in which people can decide whether they want a federal system in which we can have autonomy, they don't listen, instead they threaten people, these imposters in Kiev." | "But we all want a peaceful solution. All we are asking for is a referendum in which people can decide whether they want a federal system in which we can have autonomy, they don't listen, instead they threaten people, these imposters in Kiev." |
| Mrs Arbutkova, whose elegant appearance was incongruous at a checkpoint in the rain, insisted on showing me her Ukrainian passport to disprove "lies" about Russians driving the demonstrations. As she rummaged around her large designer handbag to do so, something fell clanking to the pavement; it was a police baton. | Mrs Arbutkova, whose elegant appearance was incongruous at a checkpoint in the rain, insisted on showing me her Ukrainian passport to disprove "lies" about Russians driving the demonstrations. As she rummaged around her large designer handbag to do so, something fell clanking to the pavement; it was a police baton. |