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| Ukraine crisis: Mayor of second city Gennady Kernes fights for his life after assassination attempt blamed on Kremlin | Ukraine crisis: Mayor of second city Gennady Kernes fights for his life after assassination attempt blamed on Kremlin |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The day began with the police station and administration building in Kostiantynivka being overrun; next the airport at Kramatorsk was attacked with rocket propelled grenades and then the mayor of Kharkiv was shot in the back. While America and the European Union impose new sanctions on Russia, violence and turmoil continues unabated in eastern Ukraine. | The day began with the police station and administration building in Kostiantynivka being overrun; next the airport at Kramatorsk was attacked with rocket propelled grenades and then the mayor of Kharkiv was shot in the back. While America and the European Union impose new sanctions on Russia, violence and turmoil continues unabated in eastern Ukraine. |
| The attempted murder of Gennady Kernes, the mayor of the country’s second-largest city, raised fears that prominent public figures were being targeted for assassination. On Monday night he was “fighting for his life” after surgery, said his spokesman. The blame was levelled at both the Kremlin and extreme right-wing groups. | The attempted murder of Gennady Kernes, the mayor of the country’s second-largest city, raised fears that prominent public figures were being targeted for assassination. On Monday night he was “fighting for his life” after surgery, said his spokesman. The blame was levelled at both the Kremlin and extreme right-wing groups. |
| Mr Kernes was gunned down while he was out cycling, jogging, or swimming, according to differing accounts. Valeriy Boyko, the director of the Institute of Surgery in Kiev, said the mayor had “suffered a very serious wound with a number of organs damaged”. | Mr Kernes was gunned down while he was out cycling, jogging, or swimming, according to differing accounts. Valeriy Boyko, the director of the Institute of Surgery in Kiev, said the mayor had “suffered a very serious wound with a number of organs damaged”. |
| Kharkiv Mayor Gennady Kernes had emergency surgery after yesterday’s shooting (AP) | |
| The 64-year-old billionaire businessman had been a fervent supporter of Viktor Yanukovych, the overthrown President, and a fierce critic of Kiev’s Maidan protest, banning similar protests in Kharkiv. Since then he had spoken out against those who want to take the region under Moscow’s rule. | The 64-year-old billionaire businessman had been a fervent supporter of Viktor Yanukovych, the overthrown President, and a fierce critic of Kiev’s Maidan protest, banning similar protests in Kharkiv. Since then he had spoken out against those who want to take the region under Moscow’s rule. |
| Zurab Alasania, the director-general of the state-run National Television Company, said: “The Russian Federation is identifying and liquidating key centres of resistance.” | Zurab Alasania, the director-general of the state-run National Television Company, said: “The Russian Federation is identifying and liquidating key centres of resistance.” |
| However, Sergei Borodkin, a separatist leader in Donbass who had been working with sympathisers in Kharkiv, dismissed the claim: “He was close to Yanukovych, he was against the Maidan, the fascists there hated him. We know that members of Right Sector [an ultra-nationalist group] visited Kharkiv three weeks ago to plan attacks.” | However, Sergei Borodkin, a separatist leader in Donbass who had been working with sympathisers in Kharkiv, dismissed the claim: “He was close to Yanukovych, he was against the Maidan, the fascists there hated him. We know that members of Right Sector [an ultra-nationalist group] visited Kharkiv three weeks ago to plan attacks.” |
| Pro-Russian officials said Mr Kernes had made a public statement that he was being subjected to “political persecution”, adding that Arsen Avakov, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, could be linked to threats against Mr Kernes and the attack on him. | Pro-Russian officials said Mr Kernes had made a public statement that he was being subjected to “political persecution”, adding that Arsen Avakov, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, could be linked to threats against Mr Kernes and the attack on him. |
| There is no evidence that Mr Avakov has any link to Monday’s shooting. The two men have, however, clashed in the past, with Mr Avakov accusing Mr Kernes, to whom he lost the mayoral race in 2010, of organising gangs to attack Maidan protesters. | There is no evidence that Mr Avakov has any link to Monday’s shooting. The two men have, however, clashed in the past, with Mr Avakov accusing Mr Kernes, to whom he lost the mayoral race in 2010, of organising gangs to attack Maidan protesters. |
| There were other possible motives for the ambush. Mr Kernes, who has convictions for theft and fraud, was allegedly linked to organised crime. He is also one of the most prominent Jews; there has been a rise in anti-Semitism recently, but his colleagues say he had not received threats on religious grounds. | There were other possible motives for the ambush. Mr Kernes, who has convictions for theft and fraud, was allegedly linked to organised crime. He is also one of the most prominent Jews; there has been a rise in anti-Semitism recently, but his colleagues say he had not received threats on religious grounds. |
| Kharkiv has been stable in recent weeks after initial clashes between pro and anti-Russian demonstrators. The unravelling of security there would impose strains on the stretched resources of the Kiev administration as it attempts to cope with the confrontation in the Donbass. | Kharkiv has been stable in recent weeks after initial clashes between pro and anti-Russian demonstrators. The unravelling of security there would impose strains on the stretched resources of the Kiev administration as it attempts to cope with the confrontation in the Donbass. |
| Meanwhile Kramatorsk airport, where the government’s anti-terrorist mission to take back a dozen protester-held towns and cities is based, came under fire on Monday by fighters using rocket-propelled grenades. Two service personnel were injured. This was the second attack in four days on the airport, a helicopter gunship was destroyed in a previous one and senior officers are considering whether the location is safe enough to be such a crucial hub. | Meanwhile Kramatorsk airport, where the government’s anti-terrorist mission to take back a dozen protester-held towns and cities is based, came under fire on Monday by fighters using rocket-propelled grenades. Two service personnel were injured. This was the second attack in four days on the airport, a helicopter gunship was destroyed in a previous one and senior officers are considering whether the location is safe enough to be such a crucial hub. |
| The owner of the airport, Dmitri Podushkin, who had been present during both attacks, said: “The first one was like watching a film, this one was very real. There is always the possibility that there will be casualties. The civil side of the airport has ceased to function.” | The owner of the airport, Dmitri Podushkin, who had been present during both attacks, said: “The first one was like watching a film, this one was very real. There is always the possibility that there will be casualties. The civil side of the airport has ceased to function.” |
| Supplies to the Ukrainian forces are continuing to come in through the military side. On the ground, there has been an increase in the numbers of Ukrainian checkpoints which were supposed to stop the movements of militant fighters, especially from Slovyansk, a separatist stronghold. | Supplies to the Ukrainian forces are continuing to come in through the military side. On the ground, there has been an increase in the numbers of Ukrainian checkpoints which were supposed to stop the movements of militant fighters, especially from Slovyansk, a separatist stronghold. |
| But early on Monday gunmen took over the police headquarters and municipal offices at Kostiantynivka, a city halfway between Slovyansk and Donetsk, replacing the Ukrainian flag with those of the People’s Republic of Donetsk and Russia. Concrete blocks and sandbags were in front of the buildings by late afternoon with armed men on guard. | But early on Monday gunmen took over the police headquarters and municipal offices at Kostiantynivka, a city halfway between Slovyansk and Donetsk, replacing the Ukrainian flag with those of the People’s Republic of Donetsk and Russia. Concrete blocks and sandbags were in front of the buildings by late afternoon with armed men on guard. |
| Aleksei, one of those who took part in the takeover, said: “No one was hurt. The police support the people, we are making sure we’re properly protected for when the Ukrainian army attacks.” | Aleksei, one of those who took part in the takeover, said: “No one was hurt. The police support the people, we are making sure we’re properly protected for when the Ukrainian army attacks.” |
| Juliana Anatoliyevna, 40, standing outside the municipal building, stressed: “We had been waiting for this to happen. We saw other places becoming free and we were kept waiting. We have had 22 years of Ukraine and all that has given us is misery, industries shutting down and unemployment. All we want now is a referendum, as soon as possible.” | Juliana Anatoliyevna, 40, standing outside the municipal building, stressed: “We had been waiting for this to happen. We saw other places becoming free and we were kept waiting. We have had 22 years of Ukraine and all that has given us is misery, industries shutting down and unemployment. All we want now is a referendum, as soon as possible.” |
| At the end of the day there was a march for a united Ukraine in Donetsk. It initially went peacefully, but then groups of young thugs, some of them football supporters, emerged from alleyways to smash into the crowd, reportedly wielding baseball bats and throwing bricks. Dozens of riot police stood and watched. | At the end of the day there was a march for a united Ukraine in Donetsk. It initially went peacefully, but then groups of young thugs, some of them football supporters, emerged from alleyways to smash into the crowd, reportedly wielding baseball bats and throwing bricks. Dozens of riot police stood and watched. |