1 March 2014

Pro-Russian demonstrations in Crimea and Kharkiv continue. Any pro-Ukrainian protesters amongst the crowd are swiftly removed by unmarked officers (known because of their wearing all black, with ear pieces).

Russia supporters in the South and East are being told by Russian news sources that their lives are in danger because of the ‘fascist take over’ of Kyiv. They are told that they will be exterminated by the Ukrainian government.  However, an agreement is made for a broadcast of Hromadske TV to be made on Persha Natsional’na. The Persha Natsional’na is the government controlled channel that, up till now, had showed nothing about the Maidan except stories of fascists and foreign control. Hromadske TV is a civil initiative, an internet-based channel, run by Ukrainain journalists formerly employed by the various official media outlets. Perhaps this opening of information and news will have some effect?

Russia's Parliament approves a request by President Vladimir Putin to use Russian forces across Ukraine. In response, Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchynov puts his army on full alert. Putin says Moscow reserves the right to protect its interests and those of Russian speakers in Ukraine. Russian forces take over Crimea, although often armed men are without identification. Armed check points are set up across the peninsula. Meanwhile, tensions continue to build and clashes between people continue in Kharkiv.