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| Ukraine reinstates conscription as crisis deepens | Ukraine reinstates conscription as crisis deepens |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchynov has reinstated military conscription to deal with deteriorating security in the east of the country. | Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchynov has reinstated military conscription to deal with deteriorating security in the east of the country. |
| The move, announced in a decree, came as pro-Russia militants seized the regional prosecutor's office in the eastern city of Donetsk. | The move, announced in a decree, came as pro-Russia militants seized the regional prosecutor's office in the eastern city of Donetsk. |
| Ukraine blames Russia for organising the seizures of a number of offices in the east, a claim Moscow denies. | Ukraine blames Russia for organising the seizures of a number of offices in the east, a claim Moscow denies. |
| Some 40,000 Russian troops are stationed near the Ukrainian border. | Some 40,000 Russian troops are stationed near the Ukrainian border. |
| Mr Turchynov admitted on Wednesday that his forces were "helpless" to quell the unrest in some parts of the east, saying the goal was now to prevent it from spreading. | Mr Turchynov admitted on Wednesday that his forces were "helpless" to quell the unrest in some parts of the east, saying the goal was now to prevent it from spreading. |
| He also said Ukraine was on "full combat alert", amid fears that Russian troops could invade. | He also said Ukraine was on "full combat alert", amid fears that Russian troops could invade. |
| On Thursday, his office said in a statement that conscription was being introduced "given the deteriorating situation in the east and the south... the rising force of armed pro-Russian units and the taking of public administration buildings... which threaten territorial integrity". | On Thursday, his office said in a statement that conscription was being introduced "given the deteriorating situation in the east and the south... the rising force of armed pro-Russian units and the taking of public administration buildings... which threaten territorial integrity". |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Kiev's decision is, in the short-term at least, a symbolic step as the Ukrainian military has been starved of cash for years and is no match for what Russia has on its borders. | BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Kiev's decision is, in the short-term at least, a symbolic step as the Ukrainian military has been starved of cash for years and is no match for what Russia has on its borders. |
| The real battle for control of Ukrainian territory is already under way and Kiev is losing ground, he adds. | The real battle for control of Ukrainian territory is already under way and Kiev is losing ground, he adds. |
| Analysts say Ukraine has 130,000 personnel in its armed forces that could be boosted to about one million with reservists. | Analysts say Ukraine has 130,000 personnel in its armed forces that could be boosted to about one million with reservists. |
| Kiev scrapped compulsory military service for young men in late 2013 under a law introduced by then President Viktor Yanukovych. | Kiev scrapped compulsory military service for young men in late 2013 under a law introduced by then President Viktor Yanukovych. |
| At the time, Mr Yanukovych said Ukraine would introduce military reforms to create "a professional army". | At the time, Mr Yanukovych said Ukraine would introduce military reforms to create "a professional army". |
| Police disarmed | Police disarmed |
| In Donetsk on Thursday, pro-Russian militants attacked the prosecutor's office, accusing those inside of siding with the government in Kiev. | In Donetsk on Thursday, pro-Russian militants attacked the prosecutor's office, accusing those inside of siding with the government in Kiev. |
| The crowd later forced its way into the building, stripping weapons and shields from police officers and raising the flag of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. | The crowd later forced its way into the building, stripping weapons and shields from police officers and raising the flag of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. |
| Many attackers chanted "Fascists! Fascists!". There were reports of injuries on both sides. | Many attackers chanted "Fascists! Fascists!". There were reports of injuries on both sides. |
| One policeman running away from the prosecutor's office told the BBC's Steve Rosenberg: "How on earth can we deal with this kind of thing?" | One policeman running away from the prosecutor's office told the BBC's Steve Rosenberg: "How on earth can we deal with this kind of thing?" |
| Donetsk, an industrial hub, has seen a number of government offices seized in recent weeks. | |
| Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population and was a stronghold for Mr Yanukovych before he was overthrown by protesters in February. | Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population and was a stronghold for Mr Yanukovych before he was overthrown by protesters in February. |
| Russia then annexed the Crimean peninsula - part of Ukraine but with a Russian-speaking majority - in a move that provoked international outrage. | Russia then annexed the Crimean peninsula - part of Ukraine but with a Russian-speaking majority - in a move that provoked international outrage. |
| The crisis has plunged East-West relations to their lowest point since the Cold War. | The crisis has plunged East-West relations to their lowest point since the Cold War. |
| On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked Russia in a phone call to President Vladimir Putin to help free foreign monitors held in eastern Ukraine. | On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked Russia in a phone call to President Vladimir Putin to help free foreign monitors held in eastern Ukraine. |
| The military observers were seized by pro-Russia separatists at a checkpoint in the flashpoint town of Sloviansk last Friday. | The military observers were seized by pro-Russia separatists at a checkpoint in the flashpoint town of Sloviansk last Friday. |
| For his part, Mr Putin reiterated his call for Kiev to withdraw troops from the south-east to open the way for a national dialogue. | For his part, Mr Putin reiterated his call for Kiev to withdraw troops from the south-east to open the way for a national dialogue. |
| Mrs Merkel is due to meet US President Barack Obama in Washington on Friday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. |