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Ukrainian government vows more military action against separatists Ukrainian government vows more military action against separatists
(about 1 hour later)
DONETSK, Ukraine — The Ukrainian government vowed to push ahead Wednesday with military operations against pro-Russian separatists in the embattled east of the country after a big show of strength routing rebels from this city’s international airport.DONETSK, Ukraine — The Ukrainian government vowed to push ahead Wednesday with military operations against pro-Russian separatists in the embattled east of the country after a big show of strength routing rebels from this city’s international airport.
Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine’s president-elect, said the “anti-terrorist operation” against the rebels, whom he has likened to Somali pirates, “has finally really begun.” In an interview with Germany’s Bild newspaper, Poroshenko, 48, said he was in close contact with the Ukrainian interim government in Kiev.Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine’s president-elect, said the “anti-terrorist operation” against the rebels, whom he has likened to Somali pirates, “has finally really begun.” In an interview with Germany’s Bild newspaper, Poroshenko, 48, said he was in close contact with the Ukrainian interim government in Kiev.
Ukraine’s military on Tuesday used Soviet-era fighter jets and attack helicopters to pound rebels and retake Donetsk’s Sergei Prokofiev International Airport. The rebels, who said they suffered a heavy loss of life in the two-day operation, had seized the airport, the nation’s second-largest, in this eastern city on Monday, a day after Ukraine’s presidential and mayoral elections.Ukraine’s military on Tuesday used Soviet-era fighter jets and attack helicopters to pound rebels and retake Donetsk’s Sergei Prokofiev International Airport. The rebels, who said they suffered a heavy loss of life in the two-day operation, had seized the airport, the nation’s second-largest, in this eastern city on Monday, a day after Ukraine’s presidential and mayoral elections.
Exchanges of machine-gun fire and explosions continued near the airport Wednesday.Exchanges of machine-gun fire and explosions continued near the airport Wednesday.
Poroshenko, one of Ukraine’s richest tycoons, convincingly won the May 25 presidential election in the first round. He said after his victory that he wants to pursue talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although he accused Russia of instigating the violence in the east.Poroshenko, one of Ukraine’s richest tycoons, convincingly won the May 25 presidential election in the first round. He said after his victory that he wants to pursue talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although he accused Russia of instigating the violence in the east.
“Russia’s goal was, and is, to keep Ukraine so unstable that we accept everything that the Russians want,” Poroshenko said in the interview. “I have no doubt that Putin could, with his direct influence, end the fighting.”“Russia’s goal was, and is, to keep Ukraine so unstable that we accept everything that the Russians want,” Poroshenko said in the interview. “I have no doubt that Putin could, with his direct influence, end the fighting.”
Poroshenko said he intended to call on the United States for military supplies and training. He spoke Tuesday to President Obama and was scheduled to meet with him in Europe next week.Poroshenko said he intended to call on the United States for military supplies and training. He spoke Tuesday to President Obama and was scheduled to meet with him in Europe next week.
The city of Donetsk, the capital of a region declared a sovereign republic by separatists after a chaotic referendum on self-rule, was “relatively calm” Wednesday morning, Donetsk Mayor Aleksandr Lukyanchenko said on his Web site. In a commencement speech Wednesday at the U.S. Military Academy, Obama used the example of Ukraine to tout his emphasis on multilateral action. For some critics, “working through international institutions, or respecting international law, is a sign of weakness,” he said. “I think they’re wrong.”
“In Ukraine, Russia’s recent actions recall the days when Soviet tanks rolled into Eastern Europe,” Obama said. “But this isn’t the Cold War. Our ability to shape world opinion helped isolate Russia right away.” Speaking to cadets and top U.S. Army leaders, Obama said the U.S.-led “mobilization of world opinion and institutions served as a counterweight to Russian propaganda, Russian troops on the border and armed militias.”
Welcoming Sunday’s presidential vote and noting his conversation with Poroshenko, Obama said: “We don’t know how the situation will play out, and there will be grave challenges. But standing with our allies on behalf of international order has given a chance for the Ukrainian people to choose their future.”
In eastern Ukraine, Donetsk Mayor Aleksandr Lukyanchenko said on his Web site that the city, capital of a region declared a sovereign republic by separatists after a chaotic referendum on self-rule, was “relatively calm” Wednesday morning.
Denis Pushilin, a leader of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic,” addressed a rally of a few hundred people in Donetsk’s Lenin Square on Wednesday, issuing a call to the region’s miners to join the separatist fight.Denis Pushilin, a leader of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic,” addressed a rally of a few hundred people in Donetsk’s Lenin Square on Wednesday, issuing a call to the region’s miners to join the separatist fight.
He told the rally that he would not give up, that this was their home. As he spoke, surrounded by bodyguards and wearing a bulletproof vest under his blue suit, a Ukrainian military jet roared in the distance above the city’s airport, which remained closed Wednesday.He told the rally that he would not give up, that this was their home. As he spoke, surrounded by bodyguards and wearing a bulletproof vest under his blue suit, a Ukrainian military jet roared in the distance above the city’s airport, which remained closed Wednesday.
Pushilin said the rebels would continue to defy Ukrainian ultimatums to lay down their arms. He also said more volunteers — “our brothers” — were coming from friendly regions and states to Donetsk as reinforcements.Pushilin said the rebels would continue to defy Ukrainian ultimatums to lay down their arms. He also said more volunteers — “our brothers” — were coming from friendly regions and states to Donetsk as reinforcements.
“We are not going to leave, and we are not going to surrender. This is our land and our home. We will protect our land and our home,” Pushilin said. “We are getting stronger and stronger. ”“We are not going to leave, and we are not going to surrender. This is our land and our home. We will protect our land and our home,” Pushilin said. “We are getting stronger and stronger. ”
Asked in a brief interview on Tuesday whether fighters were coming from Chechnya, Pushilin replied that volunteers were coming from all over — “even Europe” — and that no one could stop them from defending the Donetsk People’s Republic.Asked in a brief interview on Tuesday whether fighters were coming from Chechnya, Pushilin replied that volunteers were coming from all over — “even Europe” — and that no one could stop them from defending the Donetsk People’s Republic.
“We are agreed. We will go on to victory,” Pushilin said.“We are agreed. We will go on to victory,” Pushilin said.
Chechnya’s regional leader said he had not sent any fighters into eastern Ukraine but that some may have gone themselves on “personal business.”Chechnya’s regional leader said he had not sent any fighters into eastern Ukraine but that some may have gone themselves on “personal business.”
Ramzan Kadyrov took to Instagram on Wednesday to dispute reports of Chechen fighters in Ukraine’s separatist movement.Ramzan Kadyrov took to Instagram on Wednesday to dispute reports of Chechen fighters in Ukraine’s separatist movement.
“Ukrainian sources are spreading reports that some ‘Chechen units’ from Russia have broken into Donetsk. I am officially declaring that this does not correspond to the facts,” Kadyrov said on Instagram.“Ukrainian sources are spreading reports that some ‘Chechen units’ from Russia have broken into Donetsk. I am officially declaring that this does not correspond to the facts,” Kadyrov said on Instagram.
Chechen authorities cannot keep track of every citizen’s travel, Kadyrov wrote.Chechen authorities cannot keep track of every citizen’s travel, Kadyrov wrote.
But Kadyrov, a close political ally of Putin’s, has already been involved in Ukraine’s crisis. Earlier this week, Kadyrov told Russia’s Izvestia newspaper that he had personally engineered the release of two Russian journalists who had been held by Ukrainian authorities for more than a week.But Kadyrov, a close political ally of Putin’s, has already been involved in Ukraine’s crisis. Earlier this week, Kadyrov told Russia’s Izvestia newspaper that he had personally engineered the release of two Russian journalists who had been held by Ukrainian authorities for more than a week.
Russia’s top diplomat has warned Kiev against going any further in its military assault on separatists. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Moscow that any escalation would be a “colossal mistake,” according to the Russian news agency Interfax.Russia’s top diplomat has warned Kiev against going any further in its military assault on separatists. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Moscow that any escalation would be a “colossal mistake,” according to the Russian news agency Interfax.
Lavrov lashed out Wednesday at unnamed states or actors, who he said are trying to drive a “wedge” through Ukraine. Lavrov warned that Ukraine’s crisis is worsening.
“The people are essentially being pushed into the abyss of a fratricidal war,” Lavrov said at a meeting in Moscow, according to Interfax.
In the rebel stronghold of Slovyansk, meanwhile, local media reported more shelling Wednesday, as Russian officials appeared to pivot from what was initially a cold, but vaguely conciliatory, response to Poroshenko’s election victory, to declaring his authority an outright failure.In the rebel stronghold of Slovyansk, meanwhile, local media reported more shelling Wednesday, as Russian officials appeared to pivot from what was initially a cold, but vaguely conciliatory, response to Poroshenko’s election victory, to declaring his authority an outright failure.
“Civil war is underway. Kiev is fighting with its own people,” said Leonid Slutsky, a Russian lawmaker who heads the committee dealing with Russian relations with the former Soviet republics. “Poroshenko’s arrival has not stopped the violence, but has accelerated the growth of violence and civilian casualties in Donbas,” Slutsky said, according to Interfax.“Civil war is underway. Kiev is fighting with its own people,” said Leonid Slutsky, a Russian lawmaker who heads the committee dealing with Russian relations with the former Soviet republics. “Poroshenko’s arrival has not stopped the violence, but has accelerated the growth of violence and civilian casualties in Donbas,” Slutsky said, according to Interfax.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry also called on Ukrainian authorities to deliver “immediate humanitarian aid” to eastern Ukraine to cope with the fighting. In Kiev, Ukrainian activists also used social media to call on their compatriots to provide medicine and donations to the eastern military effort.Russia’s Foreign Ministry also called on Ukrainian authorities to deliver “immediate humanitarian aid” to eastern Ukraine to cope with the fighting. In Kiev, Ukrainian activists also used social media to call on their compatriots to provide medicine and donations to the eastern military effort.
In one sign of the aggressive new push against the rebels, Poroshenko said he wanted direct U.S. military aid to bolster his country’s weakened army. Birnbaum reported from Kiev and Hauslohner from Moscow. William Branigin in Washington and Daniela Deane in London contributed to this report.
“When your neighbor’s house is burning, you should lend him your hose,” Poroshenko said late Monday in an interview with Jackson Diehl, deputy editorial page editor of The Washington Post.
Invoking President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s World War II-era Lend-Lease program, Poroshenko said: “Now we should create a new security treaty exactly like Lend-Lease. . . . We should cooperate in military technical assistance and in advising assistance. We are ready to fight for independence, and we should build up the armed forces of Ukraine.”
Obama called Poroshenko on Tuesday to “offer the full support of the United States as he seeks to unify and move his country forward,” the White House said.
If Ukrainian officials embraced the United States on Tuesday, they used tough rhetoric against Russia, which they have accused of backing the separatists.
“Russia is exporting terrorism, in the most brutal, unashamed manner possible,” Deputy Foreign Minister Danylo Lubkivsky told reporters in Kiev on Tuesday. He said a convoy of vehicles had attempted early Tuesday to enter Ukraine from Russia.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said Tuesday that four of its international election monitors in Donetsk lost contact after being stopped at a separatist checkpoint Monday night and that it has been unable to locate them.
The four Donetsk-based OSCE monitors were on a routine patrol at the border of Luhansk and Donetsk provinces when the organization last made contact with them, said spokesman Michael Bociurkiw. The OSCE has posted about 30 monitors to Donetsk, and the nationalities of the four who have disappeared are Estonian, Swiss, Turkish and Danish, he said.
Another OSCE monitoring team was seized by separatists in the eastern city of Slovyansk last month. The group was freed after more than a week.
In Donetsk, the Ukrainian military used MiG fighter jets and Mi-8 and Mi-24 attack helicopters to press its assault against rebels who had taken the airport early Monday. By late Tuesday, the airport was back in government hands.
“We will carry out these operations until not a single terrorist remains on the territory of Ukraine,” First Deputy Prime Minister Vitaliy Yarema said in Kiev, according to Interfax. He said that the fighting had reached a “turning point” and that Ukraine’s military was making gains.
The rebels “have already realized that making the Ukrainian army angry is tantamount to being one’s own enemy,” Yarema said. “They already had the chance to feel that during yesterday’s fighting at the Donetsk airport.”
If the pro-Russian separatists keep fighting, “precision-guided munitions will be used,” said Vladislav Seleznev, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military’s operations in the east.
On Tuesday morning, all roads to Prokofiev Airport were blocked because of sporadic gunfire. A large overturned military-type vehicle with a front wheel blown off was lying on a residential road a few miles from the airport.
In a neighborhood less than half a mile from the airport, Alexander Markhovin, 56, a retired miner, stood outside an addition to his house that was destroyed in the clashes.
He said the fighting started up again about 7 a.m. Tuesday. He and his wife were unharmed, having sheltered in an older part of the house.
“We don’t know what it was because . . . smoke covered everything,” he said, standing in his carport, where they had retrieved what they could, including two icons. “It was smoldering.”
By late Tuesday, an unnerving calm settled over Donetsk, a city of nearly a million people that until this week had largely escaped the violence that had plagued the region. Streets seemed almost deserted, and many people headed out of town to stay with relatives. Shops and cafes were closed well before the 8 p.m. curfew called for by separatist leaders.
Those leaders seemed increasingly under stress, both from the military assault launched from Kiev and from Putin’s willingness to engage with the new Ukrainian leadership.
“We warned Russia and we warned the international community that the elections on the 25th of May would not change the situation,” Donetsk separatist leader Pavel Gubarev said in a video statement posted on his Facebook page, in which he spoke from a room where images of Putin and former Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez were hanging on the wall.
“Poroshenko is again coming to us for more bloodshed,” Gubarev said.
Birnbaum reported from Kiev and Hauslohner from Moscow. Daniela Deane contributed to this report from London.