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| Ukraine Sends Force to Stem Unrest in East | Ukraine Sends Force to Stem Unrest in East |
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| SLOVYANSK, Ukraine — The Ukrainian military landed airborne troops at an airport about 25 miles south of here on Tuesday, raising tensions with Russia in the opening phase of what the government in Kiev called a wider military operation to confront pro-Russian militants in the eastern part of the country. | |
| Later in the day, a column of armored personnel carriers flying Ukrainian flags approached Slovyansk from the north, parking for a time beside a highway and setting up a checkpoint. Of all the cities in the east, Slovyansk seemed to have fallen most completely under the control of pro-Russian separatists, who have erected massive defensive barricades outside the buildings they occupy. | Later in the day, a column of armored personnel carriers flying Ukrainian flags approached Slovyansk from the north, parking for a time beside a highway and setting up a checkpoint. Of all the cities in the east, Slovyansk seemed to have fallen most completely under the control of pro-Russian separatists, who have erected massive defensive barricades outside the buildings they occupy. |
| The Ukrainian authorities said the movements were the first in a campaign to drive separatists from government buildings in as many as 10 cities in eastern Ukraine. The initial steps suggested that the government in Kiev, which had been hesitant to do anything to play into Moscow’s narrative that Russian-language speakers are in need of protection, was now willing to use the military to try to restore order in some places. | The Ukrainian authorities said the movements were the first in a campaign to drive separatists from government buildings in as many as 10 cities in eastern Ukraine. The initial steps suggested that the government in Kiev, which had been hesitant to do anything to play into Moscow’s narrative that Russian-language speakers are in need of protection, was now willing to use the military to try to restore order in some places. |
| In a conflict that has revealed deep, East-West fault lines, the White House praised the move as a measured step toward restoring law and order, while President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia told the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, in a phone call that he expected “clear condemnation” of the “anti-constitutional” operation by the international community. The Russian stock market fell by 3 percent on war jitters. | In a conflict that has revealed deep, East-West fault lines, the White House praised the move as a measured step toward restoring law and order, while President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia told the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, in a phone call that he expected “clear condemnation” of the “anti-constitutional” operation by the international community. The Russian stock market fell by 3 percent on war jitters. |
| At the small military air base in the town of Kramatorsk, Ukrainian soldiers quickly took control, holding at bay separatists who had surrounded the field’s perimeter, which is guarded by a barbed wire fence. At some point the commander of the operation, Gen. Vasily Krutov, left the base to speak to a crowd of protesters numbering about 500 to urge them to disperse. But the crowd remained hostile, and when he turned to head back to the base he was roughed up, people in the crowd said, shoved hard enough that his hat fell off. | At the small military air base in the town of Kramatorsk, Ukrainian soldiers quickly took control, holding at bay separatists who had surrounded the field’s perimeter, which is guarded by a barbed wire fence. At some point the commander of the operation, Gen. Vasily Krutov, left the base to speak to a crowd of protesters numbering about 500 to urge them to disperse. But the crowd remained hostile, and when he turned to head back to the base he was roughed up, people in the crowd said, shoved hard enough that his hat fell off. |
| The crowd outside the air base then insulted and taunted the soldiers inside. “Guys, fly home, we didn’t invite you here,” one man yelled. | The crowd outside the air base then insulted and taunted the soldiers inside. “Guys, fly home, we didn’t invite you here,” one man yelled. |
| The situation, described by local reporters as a “mob scene,” persisted into the early evening, with the crowd occasionally surging forward through a gap in the fence and soldiers firing into the ground in front of those who approached too close. Members of the crowd said that at least two people were wounded by the shots. | The situation, described by local reporters as a “mob scene,” persisted into the early evening, with the crowd occasionally surging forward through a gap in the fence and soldiers firing into the ground in front of those who approached too close. Members of the crowd said that at least two people were wounded by the shots. |
| Russian television — which has consistently sought to play up grievances by pro-Russian activists who the West says are a tool of Russian intelligence — introduced its evening broadcast by announcing, “The illegal, criminal government in Kiev launches a war against its own people.” | Russian television — which has consistently sought to play up grievances by pro-Russian activists who the West says are a tool of Russian intelligence — introduced its evening broadcast by announcing, “The illegal, criminal government in Kiev launches a war against its own people.” |
| It repeatedly broadcast images of helicopters and a single warplane in the vicinity of the airport, where separatists had set up a roadblock outside the main entrance on Sunday. The Russian news media, citing members of the armed opposition to the government in Kiev, reported that several members of a pro-Russian militia had been wounded at the airfield in firefights with the Ukrainian military. Later, it also reported four fatalities in the vicinity of the airport. | It repeatedly broadcast images of helicopters and a single warplane in the vicinity of the airport, where separatists had set up a roadblock outside the main entrance on Sunday. The Russian news media, citing members of the armed opposition to the government in Kiev, reported that several members of a pro-Russian militia had been wounded at the airfield in firefights with the Ukrainian military. Later, it also reported four fatalities in the vicinity of the airport. |
| The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement on Tuesday saying it was “deeply concerned” by the reports of casualties, which could not be independently confirmed and were denied even by pro-Russian activists at the airport. | The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement on Tuesday saying it was “deeply concerned” by the reports of casualties, which could not be independently confirmed and were denied even by pro-Russian activists at the airport. |
| The checkpoint the Ukrainian military established on a highway north of Slovyansk provided a further sign that the operation this time represented more than just words. Speaking to reporters following the armored column, General Krutov delivered a sharp warning to any gunmen on the road ahead, saying, “They must be warned that if they do not lay down their arms, they will be destroyed.” | The checkpoint the Ukrainian military established on a highway north of Slovyansk provided a further sign that the operation this time represented more than just words. Speaking to reporters following the armored column, General Krutov delivered a sharp warning to any gunmen on the road ahead, saying, “They must be warned that if they do not lay down their arms, they will be destroyed.” |
| While there were no credible reports of casualties or even any sustained firefights, General Krutov later told The Associated Press that his forces had repelled a force of 30 men in green uniforms without insignia, shorthand for the unmarked Russian regulars who infiltrated and overran Crimea. | While there were no credible reports of casualties or even any sustained firefights, General Krutov later told The Associated Press that his forces had repelled a force of 30 men in green uniforms without insignia, shorthand for the unmarked Russian regulars who infiltrated and overran Crimea. |
| The protesters at the airport said in interviews that they felt no allegiance or kinship to the government in Kiev and wanted to go their own way. | The protesters at the airport said in interviews that they felt no allegiance or kinship to the government in Kiev and wanted to go their own way. |
| “After Maidan, the east of Ukraine felt outside the political process,” said Vyachislav Filken, 47, a construction worker in the crowd, referring to the Kiev square where the uprising that led to a new government unfolded. “They wanted to put in their president and didn’t ask us.” | “After Maidan, the east of Ukraine felt outside the political process,” said Vyachislav Filken, 47, a construction worker in the crowd, referring to the Kiev square where the uprising that led to a new government unfolded. “They wanted to put in their president and didn’t ask us.” |
| Mr. Filken said that he wanted Ukraine to grant eastern regions autonomy, but that local people now felt emboldened and might demand simply to join Russia, as he said residents of Crimea had. | Mr. Filken said that he wanted Ukraine to grant eastern regions autonomy, but that local people now felt emboldened and might demand simply to join Russia, as he said residents of Crimea had. |
| Another said, “We want to live apart and be the bosses in our own land.” | Another said, “We want to live apart and be the bosses in our own land.” |
| After the operation began, masked gunmen at checkpoints in the city prohibited civilian vehicles from leaving Slovyansk through a main checkpoint, citing Ukrainian military movements on the highway outside the city. Cars were allowed out by side roads. | After the operation began, masked gunmen at checkpoints in the city prohibited civilian vehicles from leaving Slovyansk through a main checkpoint, citing Ukrainian military movements on the highway outside the city. Cars were allowed out by side roads. |
| The Ukrainian speaker of Parliament and acting president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, told Parliament in Kiev that the operation “will be carried out in stages, and responsibly and in a balanced manner.” | The Ukrainian speaker of Parliament and acting president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, told Parliament in Kiev that the operation “will be carried out in stages, and responsibly and in a balanced manner.” |
| He added, “The goal is the defense of citizens of Ukraine.” | He added, “The goal is the defense of citizens of Ukraine.” |
| Mr. Turchynov, who has asserted in recent days that Russian soldiers have joined the Ukrainian militants who have seized police stations and the entire town of Slovyansk, said the country was confronting a “colossal danger,” but offered the assurance that “there will be no civil war.” | Mr. Turchynov, who has asserted in recent days that Russian soldiers have joined the Ukrainian militants who have seized police stations and the entire town of Slovyansk, said the country was confronting a “colossal danger,” but offered the assurance that “there will be no civil war.” |
| In a nod to the wide backing for pro-Russian groups here and in other parts of the east, Mr. Turchynov said that “along with the Russian special forces and the terrorists there are hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens in the Donbass who were tricked by Russian propaganda.” The Donbass is a coal-mining region that includes the city of Donetsk. | In a nod to the wide backing for pro-Russian groups here and in other parts of the east, Mr. Turchynov said that “along with the Russian special forces and the terrorists there are hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens in the Donbass who were tricked by Russian propaganda.” The Donbass is a coal-mining region that includes the city of Donetsk. |
| While making his case, however, Mr. Turchynov was undermined by the head of the Ukrainian National Security Council, Andriy Parubiy, who sent out a message on Twitter saying that veterans of the uprising in Kiev, many of whom were members of right-wing nationalist groups, were poised to join the fight. “Reserve unit of National Guard formed from #Maidan Self-defense volunteers was sent to the front line this morning,” he wrote. | While making his case, however, Mr. Turchynov was undermined by the head of the Ukrainian National Security Council, Andriy Parubiy, who sent out a message on Twitter saying that veterans of the uprising in Kiev, many of whom were members of right-wing nationalist groups, were poised to join the fight. “Reserve unit of National Guard formed from #Maidan Self-defense volunteers was sent to the front line this morning,” he wrote. |
| In the town, scores of armed men kept their hold on the City Hall and the police and domestic security service building. They have barricaded roads and, residents say, placed snipers on roofs. | In the town, scores of armed men kept their hold on the City Hall and the police and domestic security service building. They have barricaded roads and, residents say, placed snipers on roofs. |
| In a sign of the heightened tension, Ukraine seemed to teeter toward a run on bank deposits on Monday. The central bank was compelled to raise one of its key interest rates to 9.5 percent from 6.5 percent to slow the rapid slide of the national currency, the hryvnia, as people withdrew deposits and converted savings into hard currency. The sliding currency also accelerated inflation by increasing the costs of imported goods, exacerbating the difficulties faced by residents in the east, who complain that the new government is mismanaging the economy. | In a sign of the heightened tension, Ukraine seemed to teeter toward a run on bank deposits on Monday. The central bank was compelled to raise one of its key interest rates to 9.5 percent from 6.5 percent to slow the rapid slide of the national currency, the hryvnia, as people withdrew deposits and converted savings into hard currency. The sliding currency also accelerated inflation by increasing the costs of imported goods, exacerbating the difficulties faced by residents in the east, who complain that the new government is mismanaging the economy. |