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Ukraine crisis: Mayor of eastern Ukraine city of Kharkov Gennady Kernes is shot by unidentified gunmen Ukraine crisis: Mayor of eastern Ukraine city of Kharkiv Gennady Kernes is shot by unidentified gunmen
(35 minutes later)
The mayor of the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkov, Gennady Kernes, has been shot in the back by unidentified gunmen, the city council’s press service reports. The mayor of the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, Gennady Kernes, has been shot in the back by unidentified gunmen, according to the city council’s press service reports
Local media reports picked up by Russia Today say Kerness was shot while running in the morning. At about 11:30 am (8:30 GMT) local time Kernes was taken to the local hospital. The office of Mr Kernes says the mayor was shot while running this morning. At about 11.30 am (8.30 GMT) local time the Mayor was taken to a local hospital.
The City Hall's website says that doctors are reportedly fighting to save his life. The circumstances of the shooting are still unclear.The City Hall's website says that doctors are reportedly fighting to save his life. The circumstances of the shooting are still unclear.
The Mayor had previously spoken out about how Ukraine's regions were struggling to survive in the ongoing crisis. Kharkiv is the second-largest city in Ukraine and is part of the region where pro-Russian gunmen have either seized government buildings or staged protests to demand greater autonomy or annexation by Russia.
Mr Kernes first held a pro-Russian stance, but later positioned himself as largely loyal to the Kiev government.
The Mayor had previously spoken out about how Ukraine's regions were struggling to survive in the ongoing crisis, but later positioned himself as loyal to the Kiev government.
According to the BBC, Mr Kernes was a major supporter of former president Viktor Yanukovych before he reportedly fled to Russia in March.
He returned to the city of Kharkiv shortly after saying he no longer supported the ousted president.
He told the BBC: "Russian is my first language. But I support an undivided Ukraine. I am a mayor of a border city but we will never yield to intimidation.
We will never make any decision that could undermine Ukrainian statehood".
In an interview with The Voice of Russia, he said: "We do not glorify the UPA combatants and will allow no one to destroy what many generations of the Soviet people and the generations of those making their home in today's independent Ukraine have created".In an interview with The Voice of Russia, he said: "We do not glorify the UPA combatants and will allow no one to destroy what many generations of the Soviet people and the generations of those making their home in today's independent Ukraine have created".
The shooting comes a day after nationalists clashed with anti-government protesters in the city, leaving 14 people injured.The shooting comes a day after nationalists clashed with anti-government protesters in the city, leaving 14 people injured.
Yesterday US President Barack Obama announced new sanctions against some Russians on Monday in an attempt to stop President Vladimir Putin from fomenting the rebellion in eastern Ukraine, but held off from measures that would hit Russia's economy. Yesterday US President Barack Obama announced new sanctions against some Russians on Monday in an attempt to stop President Vladimir Putin from worsening the rebellion in eastern Ukraine, but held off from measures that would hit Russia's economy.
More to follow.
Additional reporting by ReutersAdditional reporting by Reuters