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| Ukrainian President Says Security Forces ‘Helpless’ Against Militias in East | Ukrainian President Says Security Forces ‘Helpless’ Against Militias in East |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| DONETSK, Ukraine — As pro-Russian gunmen seized another city in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, the country’s acting president said that the government’s police and security officials were “helpless” to control events in large swaths of the region, where at least a dozen cities are now in the hands of separatists. | DONETSK, Ukraine — As pro-Russian gunmen seized another city in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, the country’s acting president said that the government’s police and security officials were “helpless” to control events in large swaths of the region, where at least a dozen cities are now in the hands of separatists. |
| With the admission by the country’s acting leader, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, that major chunks of the country had slipped from the government’s grasp, the long-simmering conflict in Ukraine seemed to enter a new and more dangerous phase. It was also the latest in a string of successes for what the West has said is Russia’s covert strategy to destabilize Ukraine and discredit the interim government ahead of presidential elections scheduled for next month. | |
| Speaking at a conference of regional leaders in Kiev, the capital, Mr. Turchynov said the “overwhelming majority of security forces in the east are not able to carry out their duty to defend our citizens” in the industrial and coal-mining regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. | Speaking at a conference of regional leaders in Kiev, the capital, Mr. Turchynov said the “overwhelming majority of security forces in the east are not able to carry out their duty to defend our citizens” in the industrial and coal-mining regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. |
| Mr. Turchynov also said that Ukrainian forces had been brought to “full military readiness” because of the threat of an invasion from Russia, which has asserted its right to protect ethnic Russians and the Russian-speaking population in eastern Ukraine. | Mr. Turchynov also said that Ukrainian forces had been brought to “full military readiness” because of the threat of an invasion from Russia, which has asserted its right to protect ethnic Russians and the Russian-speaking population in eastern Ukraine. |
| Ukrainian forces have been trying for weeks to rein in the pro-Russian militants, mostly local men who the White House believes have been organized and equipped by Russian special forces members operating under cover. | Ukrainian forces have been trying for weeks to rein in the pro-Russian militants, mostly local men who the White House believes have been organized and equipped by Russian special forces members operating under cover. |
| Last week, Ukrainian troops in a column of 21 armored vehicles set out to Slovyansk, the separatists’ stronghold, in an apparent effort to rout the militants holding the city’s main administration building. But the column never made it, and the vehicles were commandeered by the pro-Russian forces as many of the Ukrainian troops abandoned their posts. | Last week, Ukrainian troops in a column of 21 armored vehicles set out to Slovyansk, the separatists’ stronghold, in an apparent effort to rout the militants holding the city’s main administration building. But the column never made it, and the vehicles were commandeered by the pro-Russian forces as many of the Ukrainian troops abandoned their posts. |
| In his remarks, Mr. Turchynov acknowledged as much, saying that some members of the military were “cooperating with terrorist organizations,” a reference to the pro-Russian militias. | In his remarks, Mr. Turchynov acknowledged as much, saying that some members of the military were “cooperating with terrorist organizations,” a reference to the pro-Russian militias. |
| Hours before Mr. Turchynov spoke, pro-Russian gunmen seized government buildings in Horlivka, expanding their control over a swath of territory nominally controlled by self-proclaimed “People’s Republics” opposed to Kiev. | Hours before Mr. Turchynov spoke, pro-Russian gunmen seized government buildings in Horlivka, expanding their control over a swath of territory nominally controlled by self-proclaimed “People’s Republics” opposed to Kiev. |
| The men seized the city police building and the City Council building early Wednesday morning, according to Igor Dyomin, a spokesman for the police in the Donetsk region. Anti-Kiev protesters seized a regional police headquarters in the city earlier in April. | The men seized the city police building and the City Council building early Wednesday morning, according to Igor Dyomin, a spokesman for the police in the Donetsk region. Anti-Kiev protesters seized a regional police headquarters in the city earlier in April. |
| On Tuesday, armed militants occupied the regional government headquarters and prosecutor’s office in the regional center of Luhansk. There was no resistance from the local police. | On Tuesday, armed militants occupied the regional government headquarters and prosecutor’s office in the regional center of Luhansk. There was no resistance from the local police. |
| Mr. Turchynov last week resumed what he called an operation directed at ousting the masked, pro-Russian forces that have seized buildings in more than 10 Ukrainian cities and towns since March. Russian news organizations, citing evidence from satellite photographs, have claimed that Ukraine has mustered its military forces near Slovyansk for an attack on the city. | Mr. Turchynov last week resumed what he called an operation directed at ousting the masked, pro-Russian forces that have seized buildings in more than 10 Ukrainian cities and towns since March. Russian news organizations, citing evidence from satellite photographs, have claimed that Ukraine has mustered its military forces near Slovyansk for an attack on the city. |
| That operation has largely fallen flat, and pro-Russian forces have established a string of barricades and checkpoints on major highways throughout the two regions. | That operation has largely fallen flat, and pro-Russian forces have established a string of barricades and checkpoints on major highways throughout the two regions. |
| In Slovyansk, the most heavily fortified stronghold of the anti-Kiev movement in eastern Ukraine, the government said it had eliminated three roadblocks in early morning confrontations with anti-Kiev militiamen. | In Slovyansk, the most heavily fortified stronghold of the anti-Kiev movement in eastern Ukraine, the government said it had eliminated three roadblocks in early morning confrontations with anti-Kiev militiamen. |
| Militiamen confirmed that there had been small skirmishes with gunmen at checkpoints in the northwestern part of the city, but they denied that any ground had been lost to government troops. Neither side reported casualties in the clashes. | Militiamen confirmed that there had been small skirmishes with gunmen at checkpoints in the northwestern part of the city, but they denied that any ground had been lost to government troops. Neither side reported casualties in the clashes. |
| The city, which has a population of close to 115,000, sits on an important highway between Donetsk and Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Pro-Russian rallies there have led to violence, but militants have not been able to establish a foothold. | The city, which has a population of close to 115,000, sits on an important highway between Donetsk and Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Pro-Russian rallies there have led to violence, but militants have not been able to establish a foothold. |
| The police have ceased to operate in Slovyansk, where a citywide curfew takes effect at midnight. Pro-Russian militants in the city have taken journalists, politicians and others captive, including a German-led team of seven — military observers and an interpreter — working under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. | The police have ceased to operate in Slovyansk, where a citywide curfew takes effect at midnight. Pro-Russian militants in the city have taken journalists, politicians and others captive, including a German-led team of seven — military observers and an interpreter — working under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. |
| Three bodies bearing signs of torture have been found in a river near the city in the last two weeks, but no suspects have been taken into custody. One of those killed was a lawmaker from Horlivka who had spoken out in favor of Ukrainian unity, and another was a pro-Ukrainian student from Kiev. The third body has not been identified. | Three bodies bearing signs of torture have been found in a river near the city in the last two weeks, but no suspects have been taken into custody. One of those killed was a lawmaker from Horlivka who had spoken out in favor of Ukrainian unity, and another was a pro-Ukrainian student from Kiev. The third body has not been identified. |