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| Ukraine crisis: Military vehicles 'seized' in Kramatorsk | Ukraine crisis: Military vehicles 'seized' in Kramatorsk |
| (21 days 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 the Ukrainian defence ministry says six armoured personnel carriers were captured by pro-Russian militants. | But the Ukrainian defence ministry says six armoured personnel carriers were captured by pro-Russian militants. |
| Other reports suggest the Ukrainian troops may have abandoned their vehicles or changed sides. | Other reports suggest the Ukrainian troops may have abandoned their vehicles or changed sides. |
| Tension is increasing across eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian protesters have seized public buildings. | Tension is increasing across eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian protesters have seized public buildings. |
| The crisis escalated this month after pro-Russian rebels occupied buildings in about 10 towns and cities, demanding greater autonomy or referendums on secession. | The crisis escalated this month after pro-Russian rebels occupied buildings in about 10 towns and cities, demanding greater autonomy or referendums on secession. |
| In the city of Donetsk, which has seen weeks of unrest, pro-Russian gunmen have taken control of the mayor's office. | In the city of Donetsk, which has seen weeks of unrest, pro-Russian gunmen have taken control of the mayor's office. |
| 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. |
| As tensions rose, Ukraine's acting Defence Minister Mykhailo Koval headed for the east of the country to monitor the progress of the "anti-terrorist operation" announced by acting President Olexander Turchynov on Tuesday. | As tensions rose, Ukraine's acting Defence Minister Mykhailo Koval headed for the east of the country to monitor the progress of the "anti-terrorist operation" announced by acting President Olexander Turchynov on Tuesday. |
| 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". |
| '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 six armoured personnel carriers, flying Russian flags, entering the nearby town of Sloviansk. | Video later emerged of six armoured personnel carriers, flying Russian flags, entering the nearby town of Sloviansk. |
| In a statement on its Facebook page, the Ukrainian defence ministry maintained they were taken there by "extremists" and that Russian secret service agents were involved in their seizure in Kramatorsk. | In a statement on its Facebook page, the Ukrainian defence ministry maintained they were taken there by "extremists" and that Russian secret service agents were involved in their seizure in Kramatorsk. |
| A soldier guarding one of the carriers told Reuters he was a member of Ukraine's 25th airborne brigade from Dnipropetrovsk, a city also in eastern Ukraine. | A soldier guarding one of the carriers told Reuters 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. | 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." | "All the soldiers and the officers are here," he said. "We are all boys who won't shoot our own people." |
| 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 accused | Russia accused |
| Meanwhile Nato announced it was beefing up its eastern members' defences. | Meanwhile Nato announced it was beefing up its eastern members' defences. |
| 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". |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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. | 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. |
| Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has meanwhile published what it says is a batch of intercepted conversations between the Russian secret services and pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. | Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has meanwhile published what it says is a batch of intercepted conversations between the Russian secret services and pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. |
| Russian security service officers are heard to order forces in eastern Ukraine to "shoot to kill" when dealing with Ukrainian troops who do not surrender, according to the transcripts. | Russian security service officers are heard to order forces in eastern Ukraine to "shoot to kill" when dealing with Ukrainian troops who do not surrender, according to the transcripts. |
| Counter-intelligence spokesman Vitaliy Naida told reporters the same Russian agents had been involved in the run-up to Russia's Crimea annexation. | Counter-intelligence spokesman Vitaliy Naida told reporters the same Russian agents had been involved in the run-up to Russia's Crimea annexation. |
| The intercepts could not be independently verified. Moscow maintains the pro-Russian protests in eastern Ukraine are the result of grassroots activism. | The intercepts could not be independently verified. Moscow maintains the pro-Russian protests in eastern Ukraine are the result of grassroots activism. |
| 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. |