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| Ukraine crisis: Russian military attache held for 'spying' | Ukraine crisis: Russian military attache held for 'spying' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Russian military attache has been held in Ukraine on suspicion of spying and ordered to leave the country. | A Russian military attache has been held in Ukraine on suspicion of spying and ordered to leave the country. |
| The attache - who was not named - had been engaged in activities "not in accordance with his diplomatic status", Ukraine's foreign ministry said. | The attache - who was not named - had been engaged in activities "not in accordance with his diplomatic status", Ukraine's foreign ministry said. |
| Kiev and the West accuse Russia of stoking a separatist unrest in eastern Ukraine - a claim Moscow denies. | Kiev and the West accuse Russia of stoking a separatist unrest in eastern Ukraine - a claim Moscow denies. |
| Meanwhile German Chancellor Angela Merkel has asked Russia to help free foreign monitors held in east Ukraine. | |
| The military observers were seized by pro-Russia separatists at a checkpoint in the flashpoint town of Sloviansk last Friday. | |
| In another development, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a $17.1bn (£10.1bn) loan for Ukraine's beleaguered economy. | |
| The bailout money is dependent on strict economic reforms, including raising taxes and energy prices. | The bailout money is dependent on strict economic reforms, including raising taxes and energy prices. |
| 'Full combat alert' | 'Full combat alert' |
| A spokesman for the Ukrainian foreign ministry confirmed to the BBC that the Russian attache had been detained on Wednesday and declared "persona non grata". | A spokesman for the Ukrainian foreign ministry confirmed to the BBC that the Russian attache had been detained on Wednesday and declared "persona non grata". |
| The spokesman declined to provide any further details. | The spokesman declined to provide any further details. |
| The Kremlin has so far made no public comment on the issue. | The Kremlin has so far made no public comment on the issue. |
| This comes amid growing tensions between Kiev and Moscow, as armed pro-Russian gunmen continue to hold a number of government buildings in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | This comes amid growing tensions between Kiev and Moscow, as armed pro-Russian gunmen continue to hold a number of government buildings in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
| On Wednesday, Ukraine's acting President Olexandr Turchynov admitted that his forces were "helpless" to quell the unrest, saying the goal was now to prevent it from spreading. | On Wednesday, Ukraine's acting President Olexandr Turchynov admitted that his forces were "helpless" to quell the unrest, saying the goal was now to prevent it from spreading. |
| Mr Turchynov also said Ukraine was on "full combat alert", amid fears that Russian troops could invade. | Mr Turchynov also said Ukraine was on "full combat alert", amid fears that Russian troops could invade. |
| Some 40,000 Russian troops are stationed close to the Ukrainian border. Moscow has warned that its soldiers will act if Russian interests in eastern Ukraine - where a majority of the population are Russian-speaking - are threatened. | Some 40,000 Russian troops are stationed close to the Ukrainian border. Moscow has warned that its soldiers will act if Russian interests in eastern Ukraine - where a majority of the population are Russian-speaking - are threatened. |
| The US and EU have accused Russia of failing to implement the terms of last month's deal agreed in Geneva aimed at defusing the crisis by disarming illegal militias. | The US and EU have accused Russia of failing to implement the terms of last month's deal agreed in Geneva aimed at defusing the crisis by disarming illegal militias. |
| They have both stepped up sanctions against Russia this week, naming more individuals and companies facing travel bans and asset freezes. | They have both stepped up sanctions against Russia this week, naming more individuals and companies facing travel bans and asset freezes. |
| The sanctions were initially imposed after Russia annexed the Crimea region from Ukraine last month. | The sanctions were initially imposed after Russia annexed the Crimea region from Ukraine last month. |
| The IMF said $100bn (£59bn) would leave Russia this year, partly caused by the sanctions. The fund also warned that Russia was "experiencing recession" because of damage caused by the Ukraine crisis. | The IMF said $100bn (£59bn) would leave Russia this year, partly caused by the sanctions. The fund also warned that Russia was "experiencing recession" because of damage caused by the Ukraine crisis. |
| Yanukovych's assets | Yanukovych's assets |
| The IMF announced its decision on Ukraine on Wednesday. | The IMF announced its decision on Ukraine on Wednesday. |
| The bailout would also make available $1bn in loan guarantees from the US, which was recently approved by Congress. | The bailout would also make available $1bn in loan guarantees from the US, which was recently approved by Congress. |
| "Today's final approval for the $17bn IMF programme marks a crucial milestone for Ukraine," said US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in a statement. | "Today's final approval for the $17bn IMF programme marks a crucial milestone for Ukraine," said US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in a statement. |
| He added that the bailout will "enable Ukraine to build on the progress already achieved to overcome deep-seated economic challenges and help the country return to a path of economic stability and growth". | He added that the bailout will "enable Ukraine to build on the progress already achieved to overcome deep-seated economic challenges and help the country return to a path of economic stability and growth". |
| Also on Wednesday, an international conference in London ended with a commitment to help Ukraine recover tens of billions of dollars worth of assets which were allegedly stolen by the ousted President Yanukovych and his allies. | Also on Wednesday, an international conference in London ended with a commitment to help Ukraine recover tens of billions of dollars worth of assets which were allegedly stolen by the ousted President Yanukovych and his allies. |