This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27045534
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Ukraine troops blocked in Kramatorsk as tension rises | Ukraine troops blocked in Kramatorsk as tension rises |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Ukrainian troops have entered the eastern town of Kramatorsk a day after an operation began to recapture areas seized by anti-government separatists. | Ukrainian troops have entered the eastern town of Kramatorsk a day after an operation began to recapture areas seized by anti-government separatists. |
But they were blocked by civilians and the situation is unclear, amid reports that some may have abandoned their vehicles or even changed sides. | |
In the city of Donetsk, which has seen weeks of unrest, pro-Russian gunmen seized control of the mayor's office. | |
Meanwhile Nato announced it was beefing up its eastern members' defences. | |
As tensions rose, Ukraine's acting Defence Minister, Mykhailo Koval, was said to be travelling to the east of the country to monitor the progress of the "anti-terrorist operation" announced by acting President Olexander Turchynov the previous day. | |
The interim Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, called on Russia to "stop supporting terrorists in Ukraine". | |
The crisis escalated in eastern parts of Ukraine this month after pro-Russian rebels seized buildings in about 10 towns and cities, demanding greater autonomy or referendums on secession. | |
Tens of thousands of Russian soldiers are believed to have massed on Ukraine's borders since Russia took control of the Ukrainian region of Crimea last month, following a controversial referendum on self-determination. | |
'Not to fight' | |
After Ukrainian forces recaptured an airfield outside Kramatorsk on Tuesday, armoured vehicles appeared in the centre of the town early on Wednesday. | |
BBC journalists witnessed civilians, at least some of whom appeared to be local people, challenging soldiers who were also blocked by a crowd a few kilometres outside the town. | |
One officer said he had not "come to fight" and would never obey orders to shoot his "own people". | |
Video later emerged of armoured personnel carriers, flying Russian flags, which were said to be travelling in the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk area. | Video later emerged of armoured personnel carriers, flying Russian flags, which were said to be travelling in the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk area. |
The Ukrainian army told AFP news agency it had no reports of any of its equipment being seized. | |
In Donetsk, where activists have been occupying the regional government building since 6 April, gunmen met no resistance as they entered the mayor's office. | In Donetsk, where activists have been occupying the regional government building since 6 April, gunmen met no resistance as they entered the mayor's office. |
They told an AFP correspondent their only demand was for the region to stage a referendum on turning Ukraine into a federation with broader local rights. | They told an AFP correspondent their only demand was for the region to stage a referendum on turning Ukraine into a federation with broader local rights. |
Russia accused | |
In Brussels, Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen promised "more planes in the air, mores ships on the water, more readiness on the land". | |
The alliance includes two ex-Soviet Baltic republics with large ethnic Russian communities, Latvia and Estonia, while other members such as Poland share borders with Russia. | |
Russia's President Vladimir Putin warned that Ukraine was "on the verge of civil war" in a phone call on Tuesday to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. | |
Four-way talks are due to take place on Thursday in Geneva between diplomats from Russia, the EU, the US and Ukraine. | |
Ukrainian and Western officials have accused Russia of being behind the pro-Russia activism in the region while Moscow denies fomenting the unrest. | |
Ahead of the annexation of Crimea, masked soldiers believed to be Russian troops appeared at strategic points across the peninsula alongside "self-defence" units, said to have been formed locally. | |
Speaking in London, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said Russia had sent "thinly disguised" armed groups into eastern Ukraine to spearhead the occupation of buildings. | |
Moscow, he said, faced "serious long-term consequences" if it continued to destabilise Ukraine. | Moscow, he said, faced "serious long-term consequences" if it continued to destabilise Ukraine. |
The US has said it is "seriously considering" adding to sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea. It described Ukraine's military operation as a "measured" response to a lawless insurgency. | |
Are you in eastern Ukraine? What is the situation like where you are? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Eastern Ukraine'. | Are you in eastern Ukraine? What is the situation like where you are? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Eastern Ukraine'. |