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Ukraine Expels Russian Naval Attaché Ukraine Expels Russian Naval Attaché
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — As pro-Russian forces extended their control over parts of eastern Ukraine, the country’s interim authorities ordered the expulsion of a naval attaché at Moscow’s embassy in Kiev after accusing the official of “activities incompatible with diplomatic status,” a term that normally denotes espionage, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Thursday.MOSCOW — As pro-Russian forces extended their control over parts of eastern Ukraine, the country’s interim authorities ordered the expulsion of a naval attaché at Moscow’s embassy in Kiev after accusing the official of “activities incompatible with diplomatic status,” a term that normally denotes espionage, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Thursday.
There was no immediate response from Russia to the Ukrainian move.There was no immediate response from Russia to the Ukrainian move.
The development came as Russian news agencies reported the deployment of a newly formed Russian attack helicopter unit near the Baltic states of Estonia and Latvia, potentially cranking up tensions with NATO, which has stationed extra fighter jets to reassure the jittery former Soviet republics worried that the Kremlin might be eyeing more countries than just Ukraine.The development came as Russian news agencies reported the deployment of a newly formed Russian attack helicopter unit near the Baltic states of Estonia and Latvia, potentially cranking up tensions with NATO, which has stationed extra fighter jets to reassure the jittery former Soviet republics worried that the Kremlin might be eyeing more countries than just Ukraine.
In Kiev, Interfax-Ukraine quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement that “the military-naval attaché of the embassy of the Russian Federation in Ukraine is declared persona non grata in connection with his actions, which are not in accordance with his diplomatic status.”In Kiev, Interfax-Ukraine quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement that “the military-naval attaché of the embassy of the Russian Federation in Ukraine is declared persona non grata in connection with his actions, which are not in accordance with his diplomatic status.”
The diplomat was not identified by name. The agency said he had been detained on Wednesday while involved in “intelligence activities.”The diplomat was not identified by name. The agency said he had been detained on Wednesday while involved in “intelligence activities.”
The statement did not offer any detail about those activities or say whether they were linked to the occupation of government facilities in the Russian-speaking east of Ukraine, where the authorities have acknowledged losing control.The statement did not offer any detail about those activities or say whether they were linked to the occupation of government facilities in the Russian-speaking east of Ukraine, where the authorities have acknowledged losing control.
“Inactivity, helplessness and even criminal betrayal” plague the security forces there, the acting Ukrainian president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, told a meeting of regional governors in Kiev on Wednesday. “It is hard to accept but it’s the truth. The majority of law enforcers in the east are incapable of performing their duties.”“Inactivity, helplessness and even criminal betrayal” plague the security forces there, the acting Ukrainian president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, told a meeting of regional governors in Kiev on Wednesday. “It is hard to accept but it’s the truth. The majority of law enforcers in the east are incapable of performing their duties.”
The expulsion of the Russian diplomat evoked the Cold War, as the West shows growing alarm at the advance of pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine and seeks to reassure allies further afield.The expulsion of the Russian diplomat evoked the Cold War, as the West shows growing alarm at the advance of pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine and seeks to reassure allies further afield.
In Moscow, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency quoted Col. Oleg Kochetkov, a spokesman for Russia’s Western Military District, as saying dozens of attack helicopters — identified as the Mi-28N Night Hunter and the Ka-52 Alligator — supported by military transport helicopters “have begun regular training flights in the skies over northwestern Russia.”In Moscow, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency quoted Col. Oleg Kochetkov, a spokesman for Russia’s Western Military District, as saying dozens of attack helicopters — identified as the Mi-28N Night Hunter and the Ka-52 Alligator — supported by military transport helicopters “have begun regular training flights in the skies over northwestern Russia.”
The agency said the helicopters were from the 15th army aviation brigade, formed in December at the Ostrov air base. The brigade was “fully equipped with new, recently built helicopters,” it said.The agency said the helicopters were from the 15th army aviation brigade, formed in December at the Ostrov air base. The brigade was “fully equipped with new, recently built helicopters,” it said.
The report by RIA Novosti referred to NATO “ramping up its military presence in the region,” and it noted that “media in the former Soviet Baltic states, as well as Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom, have expressed security concerns about Russia’s decision to station the 15th brigade near NATO’s borders.”The report by RIA Novosti referred to NATO “ramping up its military presence in the region,” and it noted that “media in the former Soviet Baltic states, as well as Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom, have expressed security concerns about Russia’s decision to station the 15th brigade near NATO’s borders.”
Tens of thousands of Russian troops are already conducting what Moscow has termed training maneuvers close to the border with Ukraine. Russia says the drills are in response to “unprecedented” military activity by NATO forces near the border since the crisis erupted in Ukraine.Tens of thousands of Russian troops are already conducting what Moscow has termed training maneuvers close to the border with Ukraine. Russia says the drills are in response to “unprecedented” military activity by NATO forces near the border since the crisis erupted in Ukraine.
On Thursday, Reuters reported, Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov of Russia proposed that the government in Kiev and its adversaries should meet under the aegis of the 57-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.On Thursday, Reuters reported, Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov of Russia proposed that the government in Kiev and its adversaries should meet under the aegis of the 57-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
“Russia believes that such a dialogue could be arranged,” Mr. Lavrov told the Rossiya 24 television channel during a visit to Peru. There was no immediate response from the authorities in Kiev or from the pro-Russian groups in eastern Ukraine who have shown a profound hostility toward the O.S.C.E.'s representatives.“Russia believes that such a dialogue could be arranged,” Mr. Lavrov told the Rossiya 24 television channel during a visit to Peru. There was no immediate response from the authorities in Kiev or from the pro-Russian groups in eastern Ukraine who have shown a profound hostility toward the O.S.C.E.'s representatives.
On Friday, militants seized a German-led team of six military observers working under the organization’s auspices in the eastern town of Slovyansk, accusing them of being spies — a charge the observers rejected.On Friday, militants seized a German-led team of six military observers working under the organization’s auspices in the eastern town of Slovyansk, accusing them of being spies — a charge the observers rejected.
In a telephone conversation on Thursday, news reports quoted the Russian authorities as saying Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany had asked President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia for help in securing the freedom of the captive observers.
For his part, Mr. Putin said the key elements to a settlement included the withdrawal of Ukrainian military units from the southeast of the country, an end to violence there and a national dialogue, the Kremlin was quoted as saying.