An unknown number of people have been injured in
Donetsk in a clash between pro-Kyiv
and pro-Moscow groups. According to the BBC, the Washington Post, and other
international and Ukrainian media, a peaceful pro-unity rally, (people of
all ages including pensioners and children), watched over by normal police and
riot police, was broken up by pro-Russian men armed with
truncheons and blunt objects. Russia Today and
Russian news describe the events as the attack from pro-Kyiv terrorists to pro-federalism
demonstrators.
Gennady Kernes, mayor of
Kharkiv, is in critical condition after being shot in the back by unknown
gunmen during his morning swim. Kernes, originally was a
Yanukovych supporter and spoke out against the Maidan demonstrations. Although more
recently he has spoken out in favour of Ukrainian unity and against the
separatists. Kharkiv is Ukraine’s second
largest city.
Meanwhile, Pro-Russian groups have
seized a police station in the eastern city of Konstantinovka, 50kms south of Slovyansk.
The police offered no resistance and allowed the gunmen to take over.
In Slovyansk, the observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) continue to be held in the state security service building.
The US authorities have stated that the hostages have been subject to abuse,
but the captive observers issued a statement today that they have not been
touched. Either way, contrary to pleas from Germany and other European leaders,
it is clear that Russia has done nothing to facilitate the release of these
observers.
The
Security Service of Ukrainian (SBU) has confirmed that the OSCE observers were apprehended under the direct command of Igor
Byezlyera, who took orders from Igor Strelkov (whose real name is Igor Vsevolod
Girkin). Strelkov is an officer of
Russia’s Central Intelligence Agency.
The US
announced more sanctions against seven Russian businessmen close to Vladimir
Putin, including Igor Sechin, the head of state oil company Rosneft (and the
EU has agreed to target 15 Russians).
Sechin responded to
the announcement, calling it ‘an appreciation of our efficiency.’
Responses from
Russian businessmen to the sanctions suggest that the sanctions are a
performance of US and EU diplomatic measures, with little substantial effect. According
to the Guardian, a senior
Russian oil trader responded to Rosneft losing 1.7% in shares saying: ‘So he cannot fly to drink with U.S. energy
executives. But otherwise business will continue.’ The sanctions may even accelerate
Russia's turn to business with China. Russian businessmen joke saying ‘So he
changes from bourbon to Tsingtao beer...’
An excerpt from a Guardian editor writing
about a Ukrainian journalist:
Roman Lazorenko was sitting in his office
writing an article on the shadowy rebellion that is engulfing eastern Ukraine
when, as if on cue, eight men wearing balaclavas and military fatigues burst
in. Two of them carried baseball bats.
The youths
– from the separatist "Donetsk People's Republic" – said they wanted
a chat. They told Lazorenko they didn't like the editorial line of his website, 62.ua, and they had a series of demands.
They said the word "separatism"
was now forbidden. Journalists had to describe armed gunmen who had taken over
a string of government buildings in the east of the country as "supporters
of federalisation". Anything written about this "young state"
had to be cleared in advance. The news website had to publish details of a bank
account for donations to the cause.
"We recommend you agree to our
demands.”
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