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Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russia activists take Luhansk offices Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russia activists take Luhansk offices
(about 1 hour later)
Pro-Russia activists have stormed several official buildings in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk.Pro-Russia activists have stormed several official buildings in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk.
They seized the regional government's headquarters and prosecutor's office before attacking the police station, reportedly with automatic rifles.They seized the regional government's headquarters and prosecutor's office before attacking the police station, reportedly with automatic rifles.
Interim President Olexander Turchynov criticised local police for their "inaction" and "criminal treachery".Interim President Olexander Turchynov criticised local police for their "inaction" and "criminal treachery".
Earlier, Russia criticised sanctions imposed by the US and EU over Moscow's alleged actions to destabilise Ukraine. The US accused Russia of seeking to "change the security landscape" of Eastern and Central Europe.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the US had "essentially lowered an 'Iron Curtain'" by targeting Russia's high-tech sector. In a speech at the Atlantic Council in Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry told the Kremlin to "leave Ukraine in peace" and warned: "Nato territory is inviolable we will defend every single inch of it."
The EU, he added, had proved that it was "under Washington's thumb".
Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin meanwhile warned that if the sanctions affected its rocket-building sector, US astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) might be "exposed".
In other developments on Tuesday:In other developments on Tuesday:
'No control''No control'
Mr Ryabkov also stressed that Russia had no intention of invading eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russia activists have seized government buildings in more than a dozen towns and cities. Moscow has said it has no intention of invading eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russia activists have seized government buildings in more than a dozen towns and cities.
Until now, only the local office of the State Security Service (SBU) in Luhansk, a city of 465,000 people less than 30km (20 miles) from the Russian border, had been targeted.Until now, only the local office of the State Security Service (SBU) in Luhansk, a city of 465,000 people less than 30km (20 miles) from the Russian border, had been targeted.
But on Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of people gathered outside the headquarters of the regional government to demand a referendum on granting greater autonomy to the east.But on Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of people gathered outside the headquarters of the regional government to demand a referendum on granting greater autonomy to the east.
A group of men armed with sticks and metal bars broke into the building, whose entrances were not protected by police. They then pulled down the Ukrainian flag flying from the roof and replaced it with a Russian one, and opened the main entrance to the crowd. A group of men armed with sticks and metal bars broke into the building, whose entrances were not protected by police. They then pulled down the Ukrainian flag flying from the roof and replaced it with a Russian tricolour and the flag of Donetsk People's Republic.
Inside the building's courtyard, they found security personnel in riot gear massed in a defensive position. There was a stand-off, but no violence.
Later, crowds of pro-Russia activists overran the building housing the prosecutor's office before attacking the headquarters of the interior ministry's police force.Later, crowds of pro-Russia activists overran the building housing the prosecutor's office before attacking the headquarters of the interior ministry's police force.
The Reuters news agency said about 20 gunmen opened fire at the police station with automatic weapons and threw stun grenades in an effort to force the officers inside to surrender.The Reuters news agency said about 20 gunmen opened fire at the police station with automatic weapons and threw stun grenades in an effort to force the officers inside to surrender.
A BBC correspondent in the city says the pro-Russia activists also went into a regional television station, but decided not to take it over after they were allowed to make a live broadcast. Activists also went into a regional television station, but decided not to take it over after they were allowed to make a live broadcast.
Following the takeovers, Ukraine's interim President, Olexander Turchynov, demanded the dismissal of the police chiefs in Luhansk and the other eastern city of Donetsk.Following the takeovers, Ukraine's interim President, Olexander Turchynov, demanded the dismissal of the police chiefs in Luhansk and the other eastern city of Donetsk.
"The overwhelming majority of law enforcement bodies in the east are incapable of fulfilling their duty to defend our citizens," he said."The overwhelming majority of law enforcement bodies in the east are incapable of fulfilling their duty to defend our citizens," he said.
Pro-Russia activists control much of the neighbouring Donetsk region.
SanctionsSanctions
Eastern Ukraine, which has a large Russian-speaking population, was a stronghold for former President Yanukovych before he was overthrown by protesters in February.Eastern Ukraine, which has a large Russian-speaking population, was a stronghold for former President Yanukovych before he was overthrown by protesters in February.
The interim government has rejected the pro-Russian activists' demands for greater autonomy, fearing they could lead to the break-up of the country or more regions being annexed by Russia, as happened with Crimea last month.The interim government has rejected the pro-Russian activists' demands for greater autonomy, fearing they could lead to the break-up of the country or more regions being annexed by Russia, as happened with Crimea last month.
Pro-Russian activists continue to detain some 40 people, including seven military observers linked to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) seized last week.Pro-Russian activists continue to detain some 40 people, including seven military observers linked to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) seized last week.
The self-styled "mayor" of the town of Sloviansk, where the observers are being held, has said he will discuss their release only if the EU drops sanctions against separatist leaders. On Tuesday evening, the self-styled "mayor" of the town of Sloviansk, where the observers are being held, said "good progress" had been made at talks with OSCE representatives.
On Tuesday, the EU published a fresh list of 15 individuals facing travel banks and asset freezes. Vyacheslav Ponomaryov had earlier warned that they would only be released if the EU dropped its sanctions against separatist leaders.
Earlier, the EU published a fresh list of 15 individuals facing travel banks and asset freezes.
It included Gen Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, and Lt Gen Igor Sergun, identified as the head of the Russian military intelligence agency, the GRU.It included Gen Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, and Lt Gen Igor Sergun, identified as the head of the Russian military intelligence agency, the GRU.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak and pro-Russian separatist leaders in Crimea and in Luhansk and Donetsk were also named.Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak and pro-Russian separatist leaders in Crimea and in Luhansk and Donetsk were also named.
On Monday, the US announced sanctions against seven individuals and 17 companies it said were linked to President Putin's "inner circle".On Monday, the US announced sanctions against seven individuals and 17 companies it said were linked to President Putin's "inner circle".
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the US had "essentially lowered an 'Iron Curtain'" by targeting its high-tech sector.
The EU, he added, had proved that it was "under Washington's thumb".
The US and EU first imposed visa bans and asset freezes on a number of senior Russian officials and companies after Crimea was annexed.The US and EU first imposed visa bans and asset freezes on a number of senior Russian officials and companies after Crimea was annexed.
US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said the sanctions had so far caused "a quite substantial deterioration in Russia's already weak economy".US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said the sanctions had so far caused "a quite substantial deterioration in Russia's already weak economy".