This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27045534

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Ukraine troops blocked in Kramatorsk as tension rises Ukraine troops blocked in Kramatorsk as tension rises
(35 minutes later)
Ukrainian troops have entered the eastern town of Kramatorsk a day after an operation began to recapture areas seized by anti-government separatists.Ukrainian troops have entered the eastern town of Kramatorsk a day after an operation began to recapture areas seized by anti-government separatists.
But they were blocked by civilians and the situation is unclear, amid reports that some may have abandoned their vehicles or even changed sides.But they were blocked by civilians and the situation is unclear, amid reports that some may have abandoned their vehicles or even changed sides.
In the city of Donetsk, which has seen weeks of unrest, pro-Russian gunmen seized control of the mayor's office.In the city of Donetsk, which has seen weeks of unrest, pro-Russian gunmen seized control of the mayor's office.
Meanwhile Nato announced it was beefing up its eastern members' defences.Meanwhile Nato announced it was beefing up its eastern members' defences.
As tensions rose, Ukraine's acting Defence Minister, Mykhailo Koval, was said to be travelling to the east of the country to monitor the progress of the "anti-terrorist operation" announced by acting President Olexander Turchynov the previous day.As tensions rose, Ukraine's acting Defence Minister, Mykhailo Koval, was said to be travelling to the east of the country to monitor the progress of the "anti-terrorist operation" announced by acting President Olexander Turchynov the previous day.
The interim Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, called on Russia to "stop supporting terrorists in Ukraine".The interim Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, called on Russia to "stop supporting terrorists in Ukraine".
The crisis escalated in eastern parts of Ukraine this month after pro-Russian rebels seized buildings in about 10 towns and cities, demanding greater autonomy or referendums on secession.The crisis escalated in eastern parts of Ukraine this month after pro-Russian rebels seized buildings in about 10 towns and cities, demanding greater autonomy or referendums on secession.
Tens of thousands of Russian soldiers are believed to have massed on Ukraine's borders since Russia took control of the Ukrainian region of Crimea last month, following a controversial referendum on self-determination.Tens of thousands of Russian soldiers are believed to have massed on Ukraine's borders since Russia took control of the Ukrainian region of Crimea last month, following a controversial referendum on self-determination.
'Not to fight''Not to fight'
After Ukrainian forces recaptured an airfield outside Kramatorsk on Tuesday, armoured vehicles appeared in the centre of the town early on Wednesday.After Ukrainian forces recaptured an airfield outside Kramatorsk on Tuesday, armoured vehicles appeared in the centre of the town early on Wednesday.
BBC journalists witnessed civilians, at least some of whom appeared to be local people, challenging soldiers who were also blocked by a crowd a few kilometres outside the town. BBC journalists witnessed civilians, at least some of whom appeared to be local people, challenging soldiers, who were also blocked by a crowd a few kilometres outside the town.
One officer said he had not "come to fight" and would never obey orders to shoot his "own people".One officer said he had not "come to fight" and would never obey orders to shoot his "own people".
Video later emerged of armoured personnel carriers, flying Russian flags, which were said to be travelling in the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk area. Video later emerged of six armoured personnel carriers, flying Russian flags, entering the nearby town of Sloviansk.
According to Reuters news agency, they included some of the same Ukrainian troop carriers which were stopped in Kramatorsk.
A soldier guarding one of the carriers told the agency he was a member of Ukraine's 25th airborne brigade from Dnipropetrovsk, a city also in eastern Ukraine.
He said the soldiers had had no food for four days until local people fed them.
"All the soldiers and the officers are here," he said. "We are all boys who won't shoot our own people."
The Ukrainian army told AFP news agency it had no reports of any of its equipment being seized.The Ukrainian army told AFP news agency it had no reports of any of its equipment being seized.
In Donetsk, where activists have been occupying the regional government building since 6 April, gunmen met no resistance as they entered the mayor's office.In Donetsk, where activists have been occupying the regional government building since 6 April, gunmen met no resistance as they entered the mayor's office.
They told an AFP correspondent their only demand was for the region to stage a referendum on turning Ukraine into a federation with broader local rights.They told an AFP correspondent their only demand was for the region to stage a referendum on turning Ukraine into a federation with broader local rights.
Russia accusedRussia accused
In Brussels, Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen promised "more planes in the air, mores ships on the water, more readiness on the land".In Brussels, Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen promised "more planes in the air, mores ships on the water, more readiness on the land".
The alliance includes two ex-Soviet Baltic republics with large ethnic Russian communities, Latvia and Estonia, while other members such as Poland share borders with Russia. He called on Russia to make clear it did not "support the violent actions of well-armed militias or pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine".
Russia's President Vladimir Putin warned that Ukraine was "on the verge of civil war" in a phone call on Tuesday to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Nato alliance includes two ex-Soviet Baltic republics with large ethnic Russian communities, Latvia and Estonia, while other members such as Poland share borders with Russia.
Four-way talks are due to take place on Thursday in Geneva between diplomats from Russia, the EU, the US and Ukraine.Four-way talks are due to take place on Thursday in Geneva between diplomats from Russia, the EU, the US and Ukraine.
Ukrainian and Western officials have accused Russia of being behind the pro-Russia activism in the region while Moscow denies fomenting the unrest.Ukrainian and Western officials have accused Russia of being behind the pro-Russia activism in the region while Moscow denies fomenting the unrest.
Ahead of the annexation of Crimea, masked soldiers believed to be Russian troops appeared at strategic points across the peninsula alongside "self-defence" units, said to have been formed locally.Ahead of the annexation of Crimea, masked soldiers believed to be Russian troops appeared at strategic points across the peninsula alongside "self-defence" units, said to have been formed locally.
Speaking in London, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said Russia had sent "thinly disguised" armed groups into eastern Ukraine to spearhead the occupation of buildings.Speaking in London, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said Russia had sent "thinly disguised" armed groups into eastern Ukraine to spearhead the occupation of buildings.
Moscow, he said, faced "serious long-term consequences" if it continued to destabilise Ukraine.
The US has said it is "seriously considering" adding to sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea. It described Ukraine's military operation as a "measured" response to a lawless insurgency.The US has said it is "seriously considering" adding to sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea. It described Ukraine's military operation as a "measured" response to a lawless insurgency.
Are you in eastern Ukraine? What is the situation like where you are? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Eastern Ukraine'.Are you in eastern Ukraine? What is the situation like where you are? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Eastern Ukraine'.