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Ukraine crisis worsens amid intense fighting and warnings of civil war Ukraine crisis worsens amid intense fighting and warnings of civil war
(35 minutes later)
A day after intense fighting in eastern Ukraine, the region remained on the brink of civil war as a diplomatic initiative to end the confrontation floundered, with Russia insisting that the rebels holding much of the south and east of the country should be included in talks on equal terms with the Kiev government.A day after intense fighting in eastern Ukraine, the region remained on the brink of civil war as a diplomatic initiative to end the confrontation floundered, with Russia insisting that the rebels holding much of the south and east of the country should be included in talks on equal terms with the Kiev government.
The French president, François Hollande, warned that "chaos and the risk of civil war" were looming in Ukraine, while the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said "we are not far from a military confrontation".The French president, François Hollande, warned that "chaos and the risk of civil war" were looming in Ukraine, while the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said "we are not far from a military confrontation".
The Ukrainian army's attempts to regain control of the east of the country, termed an "anti-terrorist operation", is partly meant to prevent a referendum on secession from going ahead on Sunday in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but has already led to casualties on both sides in Slavyansk, the most fortified rebel stronghold.The Ukrainian army's attempts to regain control of the east of the country, termed an "anti-terrorist operation", is partly meant to prevent a referendum on secession from going ahead on Sunday in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but has already led to casualties on both sides in Slavyansk, the most fortified rebel stronghold.
In Slavyansk on Tuesday, shocked locals picked their way through the mess outside their homes, discovering broken windows, pools of blood and bullet-riddled fences a day after fighting that caused casualties on both sides. "They just came and started shooting at us. There was no warning," one Slavyansk resident told the Guardian. "Look, everything is destroyed." Most residents appear to blame the Ukrainian army for the violence. "They [the rebels] are peaceful people, they never shot anyone and now these fascists come and try to kill us," one woman said. In Slavyansk yesterday, shocked locals picked their way through the mess outside their homes, discovering broken windows, pools of blood and bullet-riddled fences a day after fighting that caused casualties on both sides.
"They just came and started shooting at us. There was no warning," one Slavyansk resident said. "Look, everything is destroyed." Most residents appear to blame the Ukrainian army for the violence. "They [the rebels] are peaceful people, they never shot anyone and now these fascists come and try to kill us," one woman said.
Four Ukrainian soldiers were killed during the confrontation. Rebels also reportedly shot down a helicopter, the third to have been felled in the past three days.Four Ukrainian soldiers were killed during the confrontation. Rebels also reportedly shot down a helicopter, the third to have been felled in the past three days.
Writing on his Facebook page, Ukraine's interior minister, Arsen Avakov, said 30 pro-Russia gunmen had been killed. "We estimate that the terrorists lost more than 30 people," Avakov wrote. The figure could not be verified. A spokesperson for Slavyansk's self-appointed people's mayor, the local rebel leader Vyacheslav Ponomarev, said the militia body count stood at 10, with another 17 seriously wounded. Writing on his Facebook page, Ukraine's interior minister, Arsen Avakov, said 30 pro-Russia gunmen had been killed. "We estimate that the terrorists lost more than 30 people," Avakov wrote. The figure could not be verified.
One bystander was reported to have been shot and killed in the crossfire while smoking a cigarette on her balcony on Monday. The civilian death follows that of 21-year-old nurse Yulia Izotova, who died after being hit by a stray bullet during clashes three days ago. Her funeral, held in Kramatorsk on Monday, was attended by hundreds of mourners. A spokesperson for Slavyansk's self-appointed people's mayor, the local rebel leader Vyacheslav Ponomarev, said the militia body count stood at 10, with another 17 seriously wounded.
On Tuesday around midday, a car reportedly tore through a militia checkpoint and opened fire in the centre of the city. Video footage shows one person being stretchered away from the scene. A receptionist at a nearby hotel said she heard the gunfire and ducked under her desk. The militia briefly closed the area down before reopening it later in the afternoon, but the bullet hole riddled vehicle was left ominously at the side of the road. One bystander was reported to have been shot and killed in the crossfire while smoking a cigarette on her balcony on Monday. The civilian death follows that of 21-year-old nurse Yulia Izotova, who died after being hit by a stray bullet during clashes three days ago.
Slavyansk residents are now bracing for what seems to many an inevitable war on their doorsteps. "We are very anxious," said 27-year-old Aleksander as he visited his local shop to stock up on provisions with his three-year-old daughter. "Shops are selling out of food. People can't work. Life has stopped." Cashpoints have run out of money, local transport has ground to a halt and most businesses have closed altogether. Slavyansk residents are now bracing for what seems to many an inevitable war on their doorsteps. "We are very anxious," said 27-year-old Aleksander as he visited his local shop to stock up on provisions with his three-year-old daughter. "Shops are selling out of food. People can't work. Life has stopped."
Several residents told the Guardian that following the recent clashes, they were ready to join the pro-Russia rebels. "If this goes on, then what choice does a man have other than to stand up, to defend his wife, his family, his city?" said 58-year-old Vladimir. "Our grandfathers fought the fascists from 1941 to 1945 and won. We will follow in their footsteps." One of the local militia commanders said hundreds of men were signing up to join their ranks. "We can't even accept them all because we don't have enough weapons, for now," he said.
But as the Ukraine army edged forward into Slavyansk, the pro-Russia militia groups appeared to be making gains on another front. In nearby Donetsk, the regional administrative headquarters, gunmen are now operating openly on the street, a distinct change from a week ago. Nearly all state buildings and some private businesses in the city have been seized.But as the Ukraine army edged forward into Slavyansk, the pro-Russia militia groups appeared to be making gains on another front. In nearby Donetsk, the regional administrative headquarters, gunmen are now operating openly on the street, a distinct change from a week ago. Nearly all state buildings and some private businesses in the city have been seized.
With most of the state security buildings in the region captured by local militia there was no resistance from law enforcement officials. On Monday a group of armed men appeared to attempt to seize a local military training school but later withdrew after some negotiations. A cache of arms might be stored inside. With most of the state security buildings in the region captured by local militia there was no resistance from law enforcement officials. On Monday, a group of armed men appeared to attempt to seize a local military training school but later withdrew after some negotiations. A cache of arms might be stored inside.
In Odessa, the number of fatalities during last week's violence in Odessa looked set to rise on Tuesday, with local media speculating that the final death toll could be over 100. In Odessa, the number of fatalities during last week's violence looked set to rise, with local media speculating that the final death toll could be over 100.
The official figure for those killed in the clashes between pro-Ukraine groups and pro-Russia activists currently stands at 46. Local police refused to rule out that more deaths could be confirmed. An investigation with the assistance of experts from Europe and Israel was ongoing, said newly appointed Odessa police chief Ivan Katerinchuk. The official figure for those killed in the clashes between pro-Ukraine groups and pro-Russia activists currently stands at 46. Local police refused to rule out that more deaths could be confirmed. An investigation with the assistance of experts from Europe and Israel was ongoing, said Odessa's new police chief Ivan Katerinchuk.
The situation in the Black Sea city remained tense. Two checkpoints around the city were attacked overnight by unknown assailants who threw molotov cocktails, one local pro-Ukraine activist wrote on Facebook. The government in Kiev intensified its efforts to reassert control, with the appointment of a new governor and the arrival of national guard units from Kiev.
The government in Kiev intensified its efforts to reassert control, with the appointment of a new governor and the arrival of national guard units from Kiev. A new interior ministry law enforcement group called "Storm" would be used to guard public buildings, according to Katerinchuk. A new interior ministry law enforcement group called Storm would be used to guard many public buildings, according to Katerinchuk.
Fearing unrest, Odessa has cancelled all large public events scheduled to mark the upcoming 9 May holidays that commemorate victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.Fearing unrest, Odessa has cancelled all large public events scheduled to mark the upcoming 9 May holidays that commemorate victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.
Kiev has accused Russia of stirring up tension with propaganda that the interim government formed after President Viktor Yanukovych fled in February was made up of "fascists", and of arming and directing the separatists.Kiev has accused Russia of stirring up tension with propaganda that the interim government formed after President Viktor Yanukovych fled in February was made up of "fascists", and of arming and directing the separatists.
In Kiev, there are still fears that President Vladimir Putin might order a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with the Kremlin saying in recent days that it had received thousands of calls from "ordinary Ukrainians" asking for protection. So far, however, a decision seems to have been taken not to invade. And while many of the rebel-held checkpoints are flying Russian flags, Moscow is unlikely to attempt a full "Crimea-style" annexation of eastern Ukraine.In Kiev, there are still fears that President Vladimir Putin might order a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with the Kremlin saying in recent days that it had received thousands of calls from "ordinary Ukrainians" asking for protection. So far, however, a decision seems to have been taken not to invade. And while many of the rebel-held checkpoints are flying Russian flags, Moscow is unlikely to attempt a full "Crimea-style" annexation of eastern Ukraine.
Moscow is pushing strongly however for Ukrainian presidential elections, scheduled for 25 May, to be postponed. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that it would be "unusual" to hold elections during an armed operation in part of the country. Putin has called the May elections "absurd".Moscow is pushing strongly however for Ukrainian presidential elections, scheduled for 25 May, to be postponed. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that it would be "unusual" to hold elections during an armed operation in part of the country. Putin has called the May elections "absurd".