From the FT:
Clashes between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists claimed their first casualties on Sunday after Kiev sent in the army to regain control of government buildings in cities across the east of the country.
Oleksandr Turchynov, Ukraine’s acting president, said he had ordered armed forces to crack down on “terrorist troops co-ordinated by the Russian Federation” that had seized police and administrative buildings.
…Arsen Avakov, Ukraine’s interior minister, said at least one Ukrainian security official had been killed and several injured in gunfire in the city of Slavyansk. A Russian news agency reported that one pro-Russian militant had been killed and two injured.
As reports emerged of street battles and helicopters hovering over the city, the US White House said it was worried about a “concerted campaign” to destabilise eastern Ukraine with the “apparent” support of Russia.
And from Reuters this morning:
Angered by the death of a state security officer and the wounding of two of his comrades near the flashpoint eastern city of Slaviansk, Turchinov gave rebels occupying state buildings until Monday morning to lay down their weapons.
He blamed Russia, which opposed a pro-Europe uprising that forced Moscow-backed former president Viktor Yanukovich to flee, for being behind the rash of rebellions across Russian-speaking towns in eastern Ukraine.
“The blood of Ukrainian heroes has been shed in a war which the Russian Federation is waging against Ukraine,” he said in an address to the nation. “The aggressor has not stopped and is continuing to sow disorder in the east of the country.”
I can only repeat that once the blood is up in conflicting populations, you can no longer assume that this is some master plan by anyone in pursuit of interests. It is a fluid situation that could spiral quickly out of control.
