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Kiev orders military moves in eastern Ukraine; Russians threatens retaliation | Kiev orders military moves in eastern Ukraine; Russians threatens retaliation |
(about 4 hours later) | |
HORLIVKA, Ukraine — The Ukrainian government Wednesday ordered the resumption of military operations against pro-Russian militants in the east after a local political supporter was kidnapped and killed, and Russia warned that it would retaliate if its citizens or interests were attacked. | HORLIVKA, Ukraine — The Ukrainian government Wednesday ordered the resumption of military operations against pro-Russian militants in the east after a local political supporter was kidnapped and killed, and Russia warned that it would retaliate if its citizens or interests were attacked. |
“If we are attacked, we would certainly respond,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Moscow in an interview with the RT television network. “If our interests, our legitimate interests, the interests of Russians, have been attacked directly, like they were in South Ossetia, for example, I do not see any other way but to respond in accordance with international law.” His reference to South Ossetia recalled the five-day war fought between Russia and Georgia in August 2008, when Moscow acted to protect pro-Russian secessionists in the Georgian territory. | “If we are attacked, we would certainly respond,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Moscow in an interview with the RT television network. “If our interests, our legitimate interests, the interests of Russians, have been attacked directly, like they were in South Ossetia, for example, I do not see any other way but to respond in accordance with international law.” His reference to South Ossetia recalled the five-day war fought between Russia and Georgia in August 2008, when Moscow acted to protect pro-Russian secessionists in the Georgian territory. |
“Russian citizens being attacked is an attack against the Russian Federation,” Lavrov said. | “Russian citizens being attacked is an attack against the Russian Federation,” Lavrov said. |
He spoke as tensions escalated following the discovery in eastern Ukraine of the body of a local politician who supported Ukrainian unity. He had been tortured and dumped in a river, Ukrainian authorities said. | He spoke as tensions escalated following the discovery in eastern Ukraine of the body of a local politician who supported Ukrainian unity. He had been tortured and dumped in a river, Ukrainian authorities said. |
“The terrorists who effectively took the whole Donetsk region hostage have now gone too far,” said acting President Oleksandr Turchynov after officials identified the stabbed and bruised body of politician Volodymyr Rybak. His corpse and that of another man — so far unidentified — were found Saturday near Slovyansk, a city that international observers say is completely controlled by armed groups of pro-Russian activists. | “The terrorists who effectively took the whole Donetsk region hostage have now gone too far,” said acting President Oleksandr Turchynov after officials identified the stabbed and bruised body of politician Volodymyr Rybak. His corpse and that of another man — so far unidentified — were found Saturday near Slovyansk, a city that international observers say is completely controlled by armed groups of pro-Russian activists. |
“These crimes are being committed with the full support and connivance of the Russian Federation,” Turchynov said. | “These crimes are being committed with the full support and connivance of the Russian Federation,” Turchynov said. |
Rybak was kidnapped Thursday by four men who hustled him into a vehicle outside the City Hall in Horlivka, a depressed industrial and mining city about 26 miles northeast of the regional capital, Donetsk. Rybak, a local council member, had tried to lower the flag of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” at City Hall and replace it with the Ukrainian flag. | Rybak was kidnapped Thursday by four men who hustled him into a vehicle outside the City Hall in Horlivka, a depressed industrial and mining city about 26 miles northeast of the regional capital, Donetsk. Rybak, a local council member, had tried to lower the flag of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” at City Hall and replace it with the Ukrainian flag. |
There has been a rise in reports of beatings, disappearances and detentions in recent days. On Tuesday, the police chief of Kramatorsk was taken out of his station by armed men. The Kyiv Post newspaper reported Wednesday that 12 people have been kidnapped over the past week in Slovyansk and Horlivka. | There has been a rise in reports of beatings, disappearances and detentions in recent days. On Tuesday, the police chief of Kramatorsk was taken out of his station by armed men. The Kyiv Post newspaper reported Wednesday that 12 people have been kidnapped over the past week in Slovyansk and Horlivka. |
“It’s chaos,” said Yurii Zhuk, a fellow deputy on the Horlivka City Council with Rybak. He said he did not know who kidnapped and killed Rybak. “They’re outsiders,” he said. “Radical elements.” | “It’s chaos,” said Yurii Zhuk, a fellow deputy on the Horlivka City Council with Rybak. He said he did not know who kidnapped and killed Rybak. “They’re outsiders,” he said. “Radical elements.” |
Zhuk said that “the police were useless.” In a video taken right before Rybak was kidnapped, police in blue uniforms are visible in the crowd. “They’re demoralized,” he said. “They’re divided.” | Zhuk said that “the police were useless.” In a video taken right before Rybak was kidnapped, police in blue uniforms are visible in the crowd. “They’re demoralized,” he said. “They’re divided.” |
Oleg Gubanov, another City Council member, said the killing of Rybak and other violence is driven by “third parties who want to destabilize the situation.” | Oleg Gubanov, another City Council member, said the killing of Rybak and other violence is driven by “third parties who want to destabilize the situation.” |
Several Ukrainian reporters have been arrested. | Several Ukrainian reporters have been arrested. |
An American journalist, Simon Ostrovsky, who works for Vice News, was detained Tuesday in Slovyansk. | An American journalist, Simon Ostrovsky, who works for Vice News, was detained Tuesday in Slovyansk. |
Stella Khorosheva, a spokeswoman for the pro-Russian insurgents in Slovyansk, told the Associated Press that Ostrovsky is “fine” and is “suspected of bad activities,” which she did not explain. | Stella Khorosheva, a spokeswoman for the pro-Russian insurgents in Slovyansk, told the Associated Press that Ostrovsky is “fine” and is “suspected of bad activities,” which she did not explain. |
There was no immediate evidence Wednesday morning that Kiev’s military operations had begun. There was, however, diplomatic fallout. | There was no immediate evidence Wednesday morning that Kiev’s military operations had begun. There was, however, diplomatic fallout. |
Lavrov said the order for force to be used against pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine came at the bidding of the United States and was instigated by Vice President Biden’s visit to Kiev on Tuesday. | Lavrov said the order for force to be used against pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine came at the bidding of the United States and was instigated by Vice President Biden’s visit to Kiev on Tuesday. |
“So I have no grounds not to think that Americans direct this show in the most hands-on manner,” Lavrov told RT television. “They have an excessive influence. They act much more openly and without any remorse, if one compares them with Europeans, who act more covertly.” | “So I have no grounds not to think that Americans direct this show in the most hands-on manner,” Lavrov told RT television. “They have an excessive influence. They act much more openly and without any remorse, if one compares them with Europeans, who act more covertly.” |
Biden pledged additional American aid Tuesday to help the new central government in Kiev, as the Pentagon announced that it would respond to Russia’s involvement in Ukraine by sending about 600 U.S. troops to conduct exercises and training in Poland and the three Baltic states. | Biden pledged additional American aid Tuesday to help the new central government in Kiev, as the Pentagon announced that it would respond to Russia’s involvement in Ukraine by sending about 600 U.S. troops to conduct exercises and training in Poland and the three Baltic states. |
Russian flags fly over a few dozen government buildings, city halls and police stations in eastern Ukraine. Some of the buildings remain heavily fortified, taken over by the activists. Other buildings are open for business, and residents renew driver’s licenses or register births, as only a small group of unarmed self-defense militia members loiter outside. | Russian flags fly over a few dozen government buildings, city halls and police stations in eastern Ukraine. Some of the buildings remain heavily fortified, taken over by the activists. Other buildings are open for business, and residents renew driver’s licenses or register births, as only a small group of unarmed self-defense militia members loiter outside. |
Biden, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Ukraine since Russia’s move into Crimea two months ago, demanded Tuesday that Russia push the groups under its sway to vacate the government buildings they have occupied and to send representatives to work with international monitors in the volatile region. | Biden, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Ukraine since Russia’s move into Crimea two months ago, demanded Tuesday that Russia push the groups under its sway to vacate the government buildings they have occupied and to send representatives to work with international monitors in the volatile region. |
In Washington, Rear Adm. John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters that the U.S. troop deployment would begin with the arrival Wednesday in Poland of about 150 paratroopers based in Vicenza, Italy. Three other paratrooper companies from the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team will arrive in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia no later than Monday, Kirby added. | |
“Since Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, we have been constantly looking at ways to reassure allies and partners,” Kirby said. “If there’s a message to Moscow, it is the same exact message, that we take our obligations very, very seriously on the continent of Europe.” | “Since Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, we have been constantly looking at ways to reassure allies and partners,” Kirby said. “If there’s a message to Moscow, it is the same exact message, that we take our obligations very, very seriously on the continent of Europe.” |
He said the exercises were expected to last about a month but that the paratroopers would be replaced by other U.S. troops on a rotational basis. “What we’re after here is a persistent presence,” Kirby said. | |
Birnbaum reported from Moscow. Branigin reported from Washington. Scott Wilson in Kiev and Karen DeYoung and Craig Whitlock in Washington contributed to this report. | Birnbaum reported from Moscow. Branigin reported from Washington. Scott Wilson in Kiev and Karen DeYoung and Craig Whitlock in Washington contributed to this report. |