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| Defying Moscow, Ukraine Threatens to Blockade Pro-Russian Militants | Defying Moscow, Ukraine Threatens to Blockade Pro-Russian Militants |
| (4 months later) | |
| KIEV, Ukraine — The interim central government in Kiev threatened to blockade the eastern city of Slovyansk on Friday, defying warnings from Moscow not to confront pro-Russian militants entrenched in towns across eastern Ukraine. | |
| In another affront to the Kremlin, Kiev also warned that any Russian troops crossing the border on maneuvers would be treated as an invasion. | In another affront to the Kremlin, Kiev also warned that any Russian troops crossing the border on maneuvers would be treated as an invasion. |
| The declarations heightened concerns that the government’s efforts to move against forces aligned with Moscow would incite a Russian military incursion that the Kremlin would characterize as a humanitarian or peacekeeping initiative. | The declarations heightened concerns that the government’s efforts to move against forces aligned with Moscow would incite a Russian military incursion that the Kremlin would characterize as a humanitarian or peacekeeping initiative. |
| But on Friday night Western powers sought to stay Russia’s hand. “We have now agreed that we will move swiftly to impose additional sanctions on Russia,” the Group of 7 said in a statement issued by the White House. The sanctions could be imposed as early as Monday. | But on Friday night Western powers sought to stay Russia’s hand. “We have now agreed that we will move swiftly to impose additional sanctions on Russia,” the Group of 7 said in a statement issued by the White House. The sanctions could be imposed as early as Monday. |
| The statement was released hours after the Pentagon said that Russian fighter jets had made about half a dozen incursions into Ukrainian airspace over the previous 24 hours. | The statement was released hours after the Pentagon said that Russian fighter jets had made about half a dozen incursions into Ukrainian airspace over the previous 24 hours. |
| Col. Steven H. Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said that Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had spoken with his Russian counterpart on Thursday, but offered no details. | Col. Steven H. Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said that Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had spoken with his Russian counterpart on Thursday, but offered no details. |
| Also Friday, a group of foreign military observers traveling under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, along with their Ukrainian hosts, were detained by pro-Russian separatists in Slovyansk, the separatists and the Ukrainian government said. | Also Friday, a group of foreign military observers traveling under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, along with their Ukrainian hosts, were detained by pro-Russian separatists in Slovyansk, the separatists and the Ukrainian government said. |
| The government said seven foreign observers and five Ukrainian military officers had been seized. The detention appeared to give the rebels, who on Thursday had released an American journalist held for three days, a new set of foreign prisoners. | The government said seven foreign observers and five Ukrainian military officers had been seized. The detention appeared to give the rebels, who on Thursday had released an American journalist held for three days, a new set of foreign prisoners. |
| Unconfirmed early reports had identified the detainees as monitors from the security organization, but the organization’s officials said all of their permanent staff members and monitors had been accounted for. Tatyana Baeva, a spokeswoman in Vienna, said the reports evidently referred to a separate German-led group of unarmed military inspectors. | Unconfirmed early reports had identified the detainees as monitors from the security organization, but the organization’s officials said all of their permanent staff members and monitors had been accounted for. Tatyana Baeva, a spokeswoman in Vienna, said the reports evidently referred to a separate German-led group of unarmed military inspectors. |
| The German Embassy in Kiev referred questions to the German Defense Ministry spokesman in Berlin, who could not be reached. | The German Embassy in Kiev referred questions to the German Defense Ministry spokesman in Berlin, who could not be reached. |
| The self-declared mayor of Slovyansk, Vyachislav Ponomaryov, was quoted by Russia’s Interfax News Agency as saying that rebels were trying to verify the identities of the detainees, who had been on a bus that he said was carrying ammunition. | The self-declared mayor of Slovyansk, Vyachislav Ponomaryov, was quoted by Russia’s Interfax News Agency as saying that rebels were trying to verify the identities of the detainees, who had been on a bus that he said was carrying ammunition. |
| Reached by phone Friday night, his spokeswoman escalated the language, saying the observers had been detained “on suspicion of being spies.” | Reached by phone Friday night, his spokeswoman escalated the language, saying the observers had been detained “on suspicion of being spies.” |
| She cut short the call before providing details. | She cut short the call before providing details. |
| Interim Ukrainian leaders said operations to expel pro-Russian militants in eastern cities would continue, even though military action so far had done little more than harden local sentiments, prompt Russia to stage military exercises on Ukraine’s border and raise concerns about Moscow’s next move. | Interim Ukrainian leaders said operations to expel pro-Russian militants in eastern cities would continue, even though military action so far had done little more than harden local sentiments, prompt Russia to stage military exercises on Ukraine’s border and raise concerns about Moscow’s next move. |
| “Attempts at military conflict in Ukraine will lead to a military conflict in Europe,” Ukraine’s acting prime minister, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, told the interim cabinet, according to remarks broadcast live and posted on the government’s website. “The world has not yet forgotten World War II, but Russia already wants to start World War III.” | “Attempts at military conflict in Ukraine will lead to a military conflict in Europe,” Ukraine’s acting prime minister, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, told the interim cabinet, according to remarks broadcast live and posted on the government’s website. “The world has not yet forgotten World War II, but Russia already wants to start World War III.” |
| The acting head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, Serhiy Pashynskyi, said the operation to dislodge what he called terrorists was continuing in and around Slovyansk and would now focus on “totally blockading” the city to prevent militants from getting reinforcements and supplies. | The acting head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, Serhiy Pashynskyi, said the operation to dislodge what he called terrorists was continuing in and around Slovyansk and would now focus on “totally blockading” the city to prevent militants from getting reinforcements and supplies. |
| He also claimed that Russian military movements overnight at four locations on the Russian side of the border had involved “400 tanks, armored vehicles and rocket launchers.” | He also claimed that Russian military movements overnight at four locations on the Russian side of the border had involved “400 tanks, armored vehicles and rocket launchers.” |
| Near Slovyansk, a Ukrainian infantry unit patrolled in the farmland northwest of the city, a day after Ukraine sought to dislodge pro-Russian forces from checkpoints. | Near Slovyansk, a Ukrainian infantry unit patrolled in the farmland northwest of the city, a day after Ukraine sought to dislodge pro-Russian forces from checkpoints. |
| At a checkpoint on the road just outside of Izyum, northwest of Slovyansk, a combined force of soldiers and Interior Ministry troops were equipped with rifles and machine guns, backed with armored vehicles and at least one transport helicopter. | At a checkpoint on the road just outside of Izyum, northwest of Slovyansk, a combined force of soldiers and Interior Ministry troops were equipped with rifles and machine guns, backed with armored vehicles and at least one transport helicopter. |
| “We have a good commander, and we believe him,” said Sergei, a major with Interior Ministry troops who gave only his first name. “But this will all be decided up above,” he added. “The politicians should resolve it.” | “We have a good commander, and we believe him,” said Sergei, a major with Interior Ministry troops who gave only his first name. “But this will all be decided up above,” he added. “The politicians should resolve it.” |
| In nearby Kramatorsk, a Ukrainian military transport helicopter and a civilian An-2 aircraft were destroyed by mysterious fires on the airfield that caused both aircraft to explode. The cause of the blazes was unclear. Officials gave conflicting explanations, including a helicopter being struck at takeoff by sniper fire, an incoming rocket and a mechanical problem. | In nearby Kramatorsk, a Ukrainian military transport helicopter and a civilian An-2 aircraft were destroyed by mysterious fires on the airfield that caused both aircraft to explode. The cause of the blazes was unclear. Officials gave conflicting explanations, including a helicopter being struck at takeoff by sniper fire, an incoming rocket and a mechanical problem. |
| The airfield, however, was calm, with the pro-Russian and Ukrainian troops separated by a short distance and displaying no signs of hostilities. | The airfield, however, was calm, with the pro-Russian and Ukrainian troops separated by a short distance and displaying no signs of hostilities. |
| On Facebook, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said Ukraine’s military operations in the east — known as “ATO,” meaning antiterrorist operation — had not been suspended, despite local news reports to the contrary. | On Facebook, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said Ukraine’s military operations in the east — known as “ATO,” meaning antiterrorist operation — had not been suspended, despite local news reports to the contrary. |
| “The ATO goes on,” he said. “The terrorists should be on their guard round the clock. Civilians have nothing to fear.” | “The ATO goes on,” he said. “The terrorists should be on their guard round the clock. Civilians have nothing to fear.” |
| Residents of Slovyansk, the city the government said was under blockade, reacted bitterly. | Residents of Slovyansk, the city the government said was under blockade, reacted bitterly. |
| “What, they will allow no food in, no products?” asked Natalya Ivanyuk, a retired teacher standing with pro-Russian men near a barricade guarded by armed men. “It is like Leningrad. Is it the Second World War?” | “What, they will allow no food in, no products?” asked Natalya Ivanyuk, a retired teacher standing with pro-Russian men near a barricade guarded by armed men. “It is like Leningrad. Is it the Second World War?” |
| “Blockade!” she added, with disgust. She sharply criticized the interim government in Kiev. “No one comes here and asks us what we want,” she said. “Instead they send tanks.” | “Blockade!” she added, with disgust. She sharply criticized the interim government in Kiev. “No one comes here and asks us what we want,” she said. “Instead they send tanks.” |
| At the edges of the city, rebels and work brigades alike could be seen fortifying older positions and building new ones. At one partly erected bunker, beside a canal, women worked beside men until almost sunset, filling and hauling sandbags. | At the edges of the city, rebels and work brigades alike could be seen fortifying older positions and building new ones. At one partly erected bunker, beside a canal, women worked beside men until almost sunset, filling and hauling sandbags. |
| The heightened tensions and continued actions have buried already faint hopes that a deal reached April 17 in Geneva by diplomats from the European Union, Russia, Ukraine and the United States might calm a crisis, stirring fears of a wider conflict over Ukraine, a nation of 46 million on a volatile fault line between Europe and Russia. | The heightened tensions and continued actions have buried already faint hopes that a deal reached April 17 in Geneva by diplomats from the European Union, Russia, Ukraine and the United States might calm a crisis, stirring fears of a wider conflict over Ukraine, a nation of 46 million on a volatile fault line between Europe and Russia. |
| The threat of intensified Western sanctions was underscored on Friday when the rating agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded its assessment of Russia. | The threat of intensified Western sanctions was underscored on Friday when the rating agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded its assessment of Russia. |
| “In our view, the tense geopolitical situation between Russia and Ukraine could see additional significant outflows of both foreign and domestic capital from the Russian economy and hence further undermine already weakening growth prospects,” the agency wrote. | “In our view, the tense geopolitical situation between Russia and Ukraine could see additional significant outflows of both foreign and domestic capital from the Russian economy and hence further undermine already weakening growth prospects,” the agency wrote. |
| In his most detailed accusation of interference yet, Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday that American intelligence services had concluded that Russia’s military intelligence services and “special operators” were “playing an active role in destabilizing eastern Ukraine with personnel, weapons, operational planning and coordination.” | In his most detailed accusation of interference yet, Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday that American intelligence services had concluded that Russia’s military intelligence services and “special operators” were “playing an active role in destabilizing eastern Ukraine with personnel, weapons, operational planning and coordination.” |
| On Friday, Mr. Kerry’s Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, hit back, accusing Washington of seeking only to further its interests in Ukraine. | On Friday, Mr. Kerry’s Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, hit back, accusing Washington of seeking only to further its interests in Ukraine. |
| “The West wants to take control of Ukraine while exclusively putting its geopolitical interests, not the interests of the Ukrainian people, at the forefront,” he said at a conference of diplomats from former Soviet republics. “This is not our method. We will not blackmail, we will not threaten, we are all polite people.” | “The West wants to take control of Ukraine while exclusively putting its geopolitical interests, not the interests of the Ukrainian people, at the forefront,” he said at a conference of diplomats from former Soviet republics. “This is not our method. We will not blackmail, we will not threaten, we are all polite people.” |