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-27118875
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine alert as politician 'killed' | Ukraine alert as politician 'killed' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ukraine's acting president has relaunched military operations against pro-Russian militants in the east after two men, one a local politician, were found "tortured to death". | Ukraine's acting president has relaunched military operations against pro-Russian militants in the east after two men, one a local politician, were found "tortured to death". |
| Oleksandr Turchynov said the politician, named as Vladimir Rybak, was found near rebel-held Sloviansk. | Oleksandr Turchynov said the politician, named as Vladimir Rybak, was found near rebel-held Sloviansk. |
| "The terrorists who effectively took the whole Donetsk region hostage have now gone too far," he said. | "The terrorists who effectively took the whole Donetsk region hostage have now gone too far," he said. |
| The move came as US Vice-President Joe Biden was visiting Ukraine. | The move came as US Vice-President Joe Biden was visiting Ukraine. |
| After meeting Ukrainian leaders in Kiev, Mr Biden called on Russia to "stop talking and start acting" to defuse the Ukraine crisis. | After meeting Ukrainian leaders in Kiev, Mr Biden called on Russia to "stop talking and start acting" to defuse the Ukraine crisis. |
| The US and the West accuse Russia of using undercover military to back separatists in eastern Ukraine, where public buildings are occupied in at least nine cities and towns. Russia denies this. | |
| Mr Biden warned Russia that further "provocative behaviour" would lead to "greater isolation" and urged Moscow to end its alleged support for pro-Russian militants. | |
| In remarks to Ukrainian MPs, Mr Biden said the US stood with Ukraine's new leaders against "humiliating threats" - an apparent reference to Russia. | |
| The vice-president called on Moscow to urge the pro-Russian separatists to leave the buildings they are occupying and to abandon checkpoints. | |
| The US is to provide an additional $50m (£30m) for political and economic reforms in Ukraine, including $11m to help run the presidential election due on 25 May. | |
| 'Connivance' | |
| Announcing the decision to resume the military operation Mr Turchynov said in a statement: "I call on the security bodies to resume and carry out successful anti-terrorist measures aimed at defending Ukrainian citizens living in the east of Ukraine against terrorists." | |
| Mr Rybak, whose body was found on Tuesday, was described as a local councillor for the Fatherland party in the nearby town of Horlivka. The other man killed has not yet been publicly identified. | Mr Rybak, whose body was found on Tuesday, was described as a local councillor for the Fatherland party in the nearby town of Horlivka. The other man killed has not yet been publicly identified. |
| "These crimes are being committed with the full support and connivance of the Russian Federation," Mr Turchynov said. | "These crimes are being committed with the full support and connivance of the Russian Federation," Mr Turchynov said. |
| The military operation to end the occupation of buildings began on 16 April but was suspended over the Easter period. | |
| Plane hit | |
| Separately, a Ukrainian military surveillance plane was hit by small arms fire over eastern Ukraine, the defence ministry said. | |
| The aircraft, an Antonov AN-30, suffered minor damage over Sloviansk when it was targeted by automatic gunfire, according to the ministry. No-one was hurt and the plane returned safely to Kiev. | |
| "Thanks to professional actions, military pilots managed to land the plane at the airfield without consequences," the ministry's statement said. |