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As Elections Loom, Fighting Turns Deadly in Ukraine As Elections Loom, Fighting Turns Deadly in Ukraine
(35 minutes later)
DONETSK, Ukraine — Four days before a watershed presidential election in Ukraine, a new round of deadly fighting flared in the east of the country on Thursday. At least eight people were reported killed in an abrupt escalation of violence as pro-Russian separatists struck back against government efforts to subdue them. DONETSK, Ukraine — Four days before a watershed presidential election in Ukraine, a new round of deadly fighting flared in the east of the country on Thursday. At least 13 government soldiers were reported killed in an abrupt escalation of violence as pro-Russian separatists struck back against government efforts to subdue them.
The clashes could represent a risk for the interim authorities in Kiev, the capital, who have claimed to be getting the upper hand against the rebels, encouraged by rifts among separatist groups occupying public buildings in numerous cities in the southeast.The clashes could represent a risk for the interim authorities in Kiev, the capital, who have claimed to be getting the upper hand against the rebels, encouraged by rifts among separatist groups occupying public buildings in numerous cities in the southeast.
In a posting on Facebook, Ukraine’s acting prime minister, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, accused Russia of escalating the conflict in east Ukraine and of trying to disrupt Sunday’s election. He called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council and said he would provide “evidence” to support his claim.In a posting on Facebook, Ukraine’s acting prime minister, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, accused Russia of escalating the conflict in east Ukraine and of trying to disrupt Sunday’s election. He called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council and said he would provide “evidence” to support his claim.
Details of the latest skirmishes in Ukraine were sketchy, but The Associated Press said that some of its journalists had seen 11 bodies at a government checkpoint in the village of Blahodatne in the eastern Donetsk region. News reports quoted acting president Oleksandr V. Turchynov as saying through a spokesman that the 13 soldiers died in the overnight clash nearthe town of Volnovakha, about12 miles south of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
The scope of the latest skirmishes in Ukraine were sketchy, but The Associated Press said that some of its journalists had seen 11 bodies at a government checkpoint in the village of Blahodatne in theDonetsk region.
The journalists said that they had seen three charred Ukrainian armored personnel carriers and several other burned military vehicles, and quoted witnesses as saying that about 30 government troops had been injured in an attack by insurgents.The journalists said that they had seen three charred Ukrainian armored personnel carriers and several other burned military vehicles, and quoted witnesses as saying that about 30 government troops had been injured in an attack by insurgents.
In other violence, according to an account in the Ukrainian version of Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, residents in the city of Volnovakha, about an hour’s drive south of Donetsk, said there were clashes in the night between pro-Russian fighters and the recently formed National Guard, which is composed of pro-Ukrainian fighters and is associated with the Ukrainian security forces. In Volnovakha, according to an earlier account in the Ukrainian version of Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, residents said the overnight clashes involved pro-Russian fighters and the recently formed National Guard, which is composed of pro-Ukrainian fighters and is associated with the Ukrainian security forces.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian military confirmed that heavily armed gunmen had attacked a military checkpoint in Volnovakha but declined to say how many people had been injured or killed in the attack. A spokesman for the Ukrainian military confirmed that heavily armed gunmen had attacked a military checkpoint in Volnovakha but declined to say how many people had been injured or killed.
In a statement, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that anti-Kiev forces “ambushed and opened fire on a checkpoint with a mass of small arms, hand grenades and anti-tank mortars.” The statement said that the firing had ignited an ammunitions depot. “There are dead and wounded,” it said.In a statement, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that anti-Kiev forces “ambushed and opened fire on a checkpoint with a mass of small arms, hand grenades and anti-tank mortars.” The statement said that the firing had ignited an ammunitions depot. “There are dead and wounded,” it said.
The statement added that one Ukrainian soldier had been killed and that several others had been injured in fighting in the town of Rubezhnoye in northwestern Luhansk region, where Valery Bolotov, the leader of the anti-Kiev forces, on Thursday declared martial law and called for a total mobilization.The statement added that one Ukrainian soldier had been killed and that several others had been injured in fighting in the town of Rubezhnoye in northwestern Luhansk region, where Valery Bolotov, the leader of the anti-Kiev forces, on Thursday declared martial law and called for a total mobilization.
The military, in its statement, claimed that its troops were not advancing further into the region when anti-Kiev forces attacked them. Video footage posted to social networks showed sirens and church bells ringing in the city. Local media have reported that a bridge was destroyed in the fighting. The military, in its statement, claimed that its troops were not advancing further into the region when anti-Kiev forces attacked them. Video footage posted to social networks showed sirens blaring and church bells ringing in the city. Local media have reported that a bridge was destroyed in the fighting.
The military spokesman said the fighting was continuing but declined to comment on casualties.The military spokesman said the fighting was continuing but declined to comment on casualties.
The new fighting came as, for the first time, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the secretary general of NATO, offered a cautious and qualified confirmation that Moscow may be preparing to pull back some forces from areas near the border with Ukraine.The new fighting came as, for the first time, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the secretary general of NATO, offered a cautious and qualified confirmation that Moscow may be preparing to pull back some forces from areas near the border with Ukraine.
“We’ve seen limited Russian troop activity vicinity of Ukraine border that MAY suggest that some of these forces are preparing to withdraw,” Mr. Rasmussen wrote on his Twitter account. “It is too early to say what this means, but I hope this is the start of a full and genuine withdrawal “We’ve seen limited Russian troop activity vicinity of Ukraine border that MAY suggest that some of these forces are preparing to withdraw,” Mr. Rasmussen wrote on his Twitter account. “It is too early to say what this means, but I hope this is the start of a full and genuine withdrawal.”
He added, however: “Most of previously deployed Russian force remains near the Ukrainian border. We see continued Russian exercises.”He added, however: “Most of previously deployed Russian force remains near the Ukrainian border. We see continued Russian exercises.”
On several occasions, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has said that the Kremlin’s forces were withdrawing from the region after conducting military maneuvers which NATO says involved 40,000 soldiers. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that four trainloads of weapons and 15 giant military transport planes loaded with troops and equipment had left border regions on Wednesday.On several occasions, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has said that the Kremlin’s forces were withdrawing from the region after conducting military maneuvers which NATO says involved 40,000 soldiers. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that four trainloads of weapons and 15 giant military transport planes loaded with troops and equipment had left border regions on Wednesday.
The withdrawals were from the Rostov, Bryansk and Belgorod regions of Russia, it said, adding that other troops were also heading back to their regular bases.The withdrawals were from the Rostov, Bryansk and Belgorod regions of Russia, it said, adding that other troops were also heading back to their regular bases.
The ministry also said that the Russian Navy’s northern fleet was to begin previously unannounced drills immediately. The significance of that announcement was not immediately clear.The ministry also said that the Russian Navy’s northern fleet was to begin previously unannounced drills immediately. The significance of that announcement was not immediately clear.
Earlier this week, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, Ukraine’s acting president, told local news media that Kiev’s military campaign against the rebel groups was entering its “final phase” and vowed to “cleanse the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of terrorists.” He was speaking during a visit to a military base near the eastern city of Slovyansk.Earlier this week, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, Ukraine’s acting president, told local news media that Kiev’s military campaign against the rebel groups was entering its “final phase” and vowed to “cleanse the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of terrorists.” He was speaking during a visit to a military base near the eastern city of Slovyansk.
But Denis Pushilin, the leader of a group of pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk, denounced the military campaign and said that if it continued it could provoke a military response from Russia.But Denis Pushilin, the leader of a group of pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk, denounced the military campaign and said that if it continued it could provoke a military response from Russia.