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Mayor of Ukraine’s Second-Largest City Is Shot Mayor of Ukraine’s Second-Largest City Is Shot
(about 2 hours later)
DONETSK, Ukraine — Unidentified gunmen opened fire on the mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, on Monday, seriously wounding him with at least one bullet to the back while he was riding a bicycle near a major highway, municipal officials said. The attempted assassination shifted the crisis in the east of the country onto new and perilous ground. DONETSK, Ukraine — Unidentified gunmen opened fire Monday on the mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, seriously wounding him with at least one bullet to the back while he was riding a bicycle near a major highway, municipal officials said. The attempted assassination shifted the crisis in the east of the country onto new and perilous ground.
The mayor, Gennady A. Kernes, had been regarded as seeking to steer a middle course as pro-Russian militants conduct a campaign of occupations of key facilities in eastern cities. That campaign is widely believed to be aimed at drawing the region closer into Moscow’s orbit or prompting a Russian intervention similar to the events that led to the Kremlin’s annexation of Crimea last month. The mayor, Gennady A. Kernes, had been regarded as seeking to steer a middle course as pro-Russian militants conduct a campaign of occupations of key facilities in eastern cities. That campaign is widely believed to be aimed at drawing the region deeper into Moscow’s orbit or prompting a Russian intervention similar to the events that led to the Kremlin’s annexation of Crimea last month.
Municipal officials said that the gunmen shot Mr. Kernes in the back around 12 p.m. local time and that he was undergoing surgery for life-threatening injuries. Municipal officials said that the gunmen shot Mr. Kernes around 12 p.m. local time and that he was undergoing surgery for life-threatening injuries. No arrests were reported.
No arrests were reported.
The mayor’s death would be the first assassination of a major politician in the east and present a new challenge to the interim authorities in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, who have seemed largely powerless to dislodge pro-Russian militants and regain control of the east.The mayor’s death would be the first assassination of a major politician in the east and present a new challenge to the interim authorities in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, who have seemed largely powerless to dislodge pro-Russian militants and regain control of the east.
Mr. Kernes has said he supports a united Ukraine and opposes Russian intervention. In a terse announcement, the mayor’s official website said, “Today, at about 12:00 there was an assassination attempt against Gennady Kernes.”Mr. Kernes has said he supports a united Ukraine and opposes Russian intervention. In a terse announcement, the mayor’s official website said, “Today, at about 12:00 there was an assassination attempt against Gennady Kernes.”
Mr. Kernes, who has dominated politics in the city for several years, is regarded as an eccentric figure who has spoken publicly against separatism while bitterly criticizing the authorities in Kiev.Mr. Kernes, who has dominated politics in the city for several years, is regarded as an eccentric figure who has spoken publicly against separatism while bitterly criticizing the authorities in Kiev.
Broadening the web of his allegiances, Mr. Kernes was also seen as a supporter of the deposed president, Viktor F. Yanukovych. While officials said he was shot while riding a bicycle as part of a fitness regime, another account said he was shot while bathing at a mineral spring. Broadening the web of his allegiances, Mr. Kernes was also seen as a supporter of the deposed president, Viktor F. Yanukovych. Officials said he was shot while riding a bicycle as part of a fitness regime; another account said he was shot while bathing at a mineral spring. Both accounts said he was shot in the back and seriously injured.
Both accounts said he was shot in the back and seriously injured. Earlier this year, Mr. Kernes rushed to calm pro-Russian activists calling for secession; appeared as a mediator in a shootout where a 19-year-old pro-Russian militant was killed; and met privately with representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the 57-nation group — including Russia and Ukraine — that has sent monitors to the country.
Earlier this year, Mr. Kernes rushed to calm pro-Russian activists calling for secession, appeared as a mediator in a shootout where a 19-year-old pro-Russian militant was killed, and met privately with representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the 57-nation group — including Russia and Ukraine — which has sent monitors to the country.
He has also accused senior officials in Kiev of pursuing political retribution and has called the new government tyrannical and illegitimate.He has also accused senior officials in Kiev of pursuing political retribution and has called the new government tyrannical and illegitimate.
“People ask if I like the new authorities, but I prefer a different question: Does the new government actually like our people, with their demands, their desires, their dreams?” Mr. Kernes said in an interview in a restaurant at the downtown hotel he owns. “People ask if I like the new authorities, but I prefer a different question: Does the new government actually like our people, with their demands, their desires, their dreams?” Mr. Kernes said in an interview last month in a restaurant at the downtown hotel he owns.
“Here we have an acting president,” Mr. Kernes said, referring to the interim president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov. “In Russia, they have a president. There they don’t have political chaos, and here what do we see? Political chaos.”“Here we have an acting president,” Mr. Kernes said, referring to the interim president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov. “In Russia, they have a president. There they don’t have political chaos, and here what do we see? Political chaos.”
The mayor has a lavish lifestyle and is closely allied with Mikhail M. Dobkin, a former regional governor and now a presidential candidate accused by the authorities in Kiev of “threatening the territorial integrity” of Ukraine.The mayor has a lavish lifestyle and is closely allied with Mikhail M. Dobkin, a former regional governor and now a presidential candidate accused by the authorities in Kiev of “threatening the territorial integrity” of Ukraine.
Kharkiv, a city with a large Russian-speaking population, lies 20 miles from the border with Russia.Kharkiv, a city with a large Russian-speaking population, lies 20 miles from the border with Russia.
Konstantinovka became the latest city to fall in eastern Ukraine when militants raised the flag of the Donetsk People’s Republic above the city administration building on Monday morning. Fewer than a dozen armed men, wearing camouflage and black masks and carrying rifles and a grenade launcher, guarded the building’s entrance here as a work crew erected barricades along the sidewalk.Konstantinovka became the latest city to fall in eastern Ukraine when militants raised the flag of the Donetsk People’s Republic above the city administration building on Monday morning. Fewer than a dozen armed men, wearing camouflage and black masks and carrying rifles and a grenade launcher, guarded the building’s entrance here as a work crew erected barricades along the sidewalk.
“We want a referendum,” the group’s commander said, declining to give his name.“We want a referendum,” the group’s commander said, declining to give his name.
The seizure of this industrial city on the road between Slovyansk, the antigovernment militia’s center, and Donetsk, the regional capital, signaled a further enfeebling of the interim government in Kiev and apparently growing irrelevance of a diplomatic agreement reached in Geneva earlier this month aimed at defusing the situation. The forces encountered no resistance from either the local police or residents, and their ranks consisted mostly of middle-aged men. Within hours of taking control, a dump truck and a crane had arrived to help build fortifications. The seizure of this industrial city on the road between Slovyansk, the antigovernment militia’s center, and Donetsk, the regional capital, signaled a further enfeebling of the interim government in Kiev and apparent growing irrelevance of a diplomatic agreement reached in Geneva earlier this month aimed at defusing the situation. The forces encountered no resistance from either the local police or residents, and their ranks consisted mostly of middle-aged men. Within hours of taking control, a dump truck and a crane had arrived to help build fortifications.
Dozens of residents readily enlisted in a newly formed city self-defense force, signing their names while Soviet-era rock anthems blared from speakers on the building’s steps. The gunmen milled freely about the crowd, crouching at times to tie pro-Russian ribbons on children’s arms.Dozens of residents readily enlisted in a newly formed city self-defense force, signing their names while Soviet-era rock anthems blared from speakers on the building’s steps. The gunmen milled freely about the crowd, crouching at times to tie pro-Russian ribbons on children’s arms.
“I’m unarmed, but if I need to, I’ll take up a gun in five minutes and shoot till the last bullet,” said Vladimir P. Kostilyov, 63, a local pensioner. “If they don’t start listening to my voice, they will start hearing the sound of a rifle in my hands.”“I’m unarmed, but if I need to, I’ll take up a gun in five minutes and shoot till the last bullet,” said Vladimir P. Kostilyov, 63, a local pensioner. “If they don’t start listening to my voice, they will start hearing the sound of a rifle in my hands.”
Negotiations for the release of a European military observer team held by militants in Slovyansk resumed on Monday with the return to the city of diplomats from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.Negotiations for the release of a European military observer team held by militants in Slovyansk resumed on Monday with the return to the city of diplomats from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Eight European officers, led by a German colonel, and five members of the Ukrainian military, were detained on Friday by gunmen at a checkpoint south of Slovyansk. The city’s de facto authorities have accused the team of spying. The self-appointed mayor of Slovyansk released one member of the team, a Swedish major suffering from diabetes, on Sunday, but has declined to release the others and said he seeks a prisoner exchange. Eight European officers, led by a German colonel, and five members of the Ukrainian military were detained on Friday by gunmen at a checkpoint south of Slovyansk. The city’s de facto authorities have accused them of spying. The self-appointed mayor of Slovyansk on Sunday released one member of the team, a Swedish major suffering from diabetes, but has declined to release the others and said he seeks a prisoner exchange.
The German government on Monday called for the immediate release of the detained observers in eastern Ukraine. The men were being “held captive against every right and without any reason,” Steffen Seibert, a government spokesman, told reporters at a regular news conference in Berlin. He appealed to Russia to “clearly” distance itself from such acts. The German government on Monday called for the immediate release of the detained observers. The men were being “held captive against every right and without any reason,” Steffen Seibert, a government spokesman, told reporters at a news conference in Berlin. He appealed to Russia to “clearly” distance itself from such acts.
Germany’s foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, spoke by telephone on Monday with his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, to demand that Russian leaders “set a clear signal that what has happened to the foreign O.S.C.E. observers in Slovyansk is unacceptable,” Mr. Steinmeier’s spokesman, Martin Schäfer, told reporters.Germany’s foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, spoke by telephone on Monday with his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, to demand that Russian leaders “set a clear signal that what has happened to the foreign O.S.C.E. observers in Slovyansk is unacceptable,” Mr. Steinmeier’s spokesman, Martin Schäfer, told reporters.
“We cannot recognize that their commitments have led to any results,” Mr. Schäfer said. He rejected as “totally absurd” allegations from pro-Russian separatists that the military team was involved in espionage. “Their work is entirely transparent. It has nothing to do with espionage. It is the exact opposite,” Mr. Schäfer told reporters. “We cannot recognize that their commitments have led to any results,” Mr. Schäfer said. He rejected as “totally absurd” allegations from pro-Russian separatists that the military team was involved in espionage. “Their work is entirely transparent. It has nothing to do with espionage. It is the exact opposite,” he said.
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen canceled a planned two-day trip to Kosovo on Monday, instead heading to the military installation in western Germany where the observers who were arrested are based to discuss the status of the detainees and their mission.German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen canceled a planned two-day trip to Kosovo on Monday, instead heading to the military installation in western Germany where the observers who were arrested are based to discuss the status of the detainees and their mission.
In Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the West should be far more concerned about the buildup of Ukrainian military forces in the east of the country rather than the actions of the self-defense units, a reference to the separatists. In Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that the West should be far more concerned about the buildup of Ukrainian military forces in the east of the country rather than the actions of the self-defense units, a reference to the separatists.
Among other issues, said the statement posted on the ministry’s website, the deployment should “raise deep concern” about implementing the Geneva agreement.Among other issues, said the statement posted on the ministry’s website, the deployment should “raise deep concern” about implementing the Geneva agreement.
Given the military heft of the various units, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe should pay attention to “the possibility of indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force, including the destruction of entire cities,” read the statement.Given the military heft of the various units, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe should pay attention to “the possibility of indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force, including the destruction of entire cities,” read the statement.
The Russian Foreign Ministry made no mention of the group of observers affiliated with the O.S.C.E. held by pro-Russian militants in Slovyansk.The Russian Foreign Ministry made no mention of the group of observers affiliated with the O.S.C.E. held by pro-Russian militants in Slovyansk.
Ukraine has deployed 11,000 troops operating in the area, plus 160 tanks, 230 armored personnel carriers, at least 150 artillery systems and “a large number of planes,” the statement said.Ukraine has deployed 11,000 troops operating in the area, plus 160 tanks, 230 armored personnel carriers, at least 150 artillery systems and “a large number of planes,” the statement said.
“The number and composition of this group significantly outnumbers local self-defense units,” it said, adding that Moscow was prepared to discuss military aspects of the crisis.“The number and composition of this group significantly outnumbers local self-defense units,” it said, adding that Moscow was prepared to discuss military aspects of the crisis.
Military analysts have said Ukraine was gradually shifting its armed forces eastward both to try to address the unrest there by rebels and in response to the military maneuvers taking place on the Russian side of the border. The Ukrainian military numbers some 70,000 troops. Military analysts have said that Ukraine was gradually shifting its armed forces eastward both to try to address the unrest there and in response to the military maneuvers taking place on the Russian side of the border. The Ukrainian military numbers about 70,000 troops.
Previously in Crimea, Russia first announced that its citizens there were under the threat of violence before deploying elite soldiers and eventually annexing the peninsula. Incidents of violence against Russians in Crimea were never independently confirmed.Previously in Crimea, Russia first announced that its citizens there were under the threat of violence before deploying elite soldiers and eventually annexing the peninsula. Incidents of violence against Russians in Crimea were never independently confirmed.