"Four Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and at least 30 injured, according to officials, in clashes with separatists as the army attempted to regain control of eastern Ukraine. There was fighting at a number of points on the outskirts of Slavyansk on Monday, the base of the armed movement that has taken over a number of cities.
The separatists also reported deaths in the fighting – although exact figures were impossible to verify – and a military helicopter was shot down although both pilots survived, according to the defence ministry.
The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic plans to hold a referendum on independence on Sunday, with much of the region outside Kiev's control".
As well as the clashes in the east, the fallout from the violence and fatalfire late last week in the southern city of Odessa continued to be felt on Monday.
The Ukrainian government has said that the violence was initiated by Russian provocateurs, while Russia has referred to the deaths – many of which were caused by a fire that broke out inside the building – as a massacre inspired by "neo-Nazis". The horrific events have only served to worsen an already tense situation.
Supporters of closer ties with Russia, who made up the majority of the mourners, blame the government in Kiev – which they describe as a "junta" and illegitimate, mirroring Russian state propaganda about the Ukrainian authorities – for the deaths last week. They accuse the police of failing to act swiftly enough to stop the violence.
Ukraine has accused Russia of directing the separatists, providing weapons and using proxy figures on the ground. Most analysts think Russia does not want a Crimea-style annexation of eastern Ukraine, but merely to stir up discontent and disrupt elections at the end of May.
In recent days President Vladimir Putin has made no public statements about the situation, but the Russian foreign ministry again pinned the blame on Kiev in a statement on Monday evening.
"The so-called authorities in Kiev continue to wage war against the people of their own country," said the ministry, adding there was a "humanitarian catastrophe" brewing in the east of the country and calling on Kiev to "stop the bloodshed".
Ukrainian authorities have likewise repeatedly called on Russia to stop stirring unrest in the region, as accusations continue to fly between the two countries.
Germany said on Monday it was pushing for a fresh set of diplomatic talks in Geneva between Russia, Ukraine, the EU and US, to push for a return to the accord reached last month that encouraged all sides to put down their weapons.
Foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said new talks were needed to reach a "clear conclusion as to how this conflict can be brought to a halt".
Source: theguardian
