A woman carries a baby as she passes destroyed houses following what locals say was overnight shelling by Ukrainian forces in the eastern town of Slovyansk on June 9.
-- Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says that Moscow and Kyiv have reached a "mutual understanding" on key parts of a plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko for ending violence in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine.
-- Reports say up to 20 armed gunmen were trying to seize property from a factory (Topaz) that makes communications and electronic-warfare equipment in the Donetsk region.
-- A deputy foreign minister says Russia will consider any expansion of NATO forces near its borders a "demonstration of hostile intentions" and "take the necessary political and military-technological measures to support our security."
-- A two-man crew for Russian Zvezda TV arrived in Moscow after being released from detention in Ukraine.
-- Serbian officials say their own work on the Russian-backed South Stream gas pipeline will have to be suspended after Bulgaria stopped construction of its portion based on EU and U.S. concerns.
-- Ukrainian security forces are reportedly still battling pro-Russian separatists in the east near Slovyansk and Donetsk.
*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv
Pro-Kyiv "Information Resistance" blogger Dmitry Tymchuk highlights some of Ukraine's problems in policing its border with Russia. His conclusions are based on a meeting with border officials, he says, and the situation will be further assessed in "the coming days."
He notes on Facebook that there is rampant corruption -- many of the residents of Ukraine's border region with Russia "feed off the border" and therefore have a financial interest in seeing a lack of law enforcement there: "If a family, for instance a father and brother, for many years engaged in cross-border smuggling, it is difficult to expect that they will be honest." The fact that many of the border guards themselves are from that same community exacerbates the problem.
The policing of the border is underfunded, understaffed, and otherwise ill equipped, he adds.
To make matters worse, he says, the border services don't interact well with counterterrorism forces, citing examples when counterterrorism forces denied border guards' requests for assistance due to a lack of resources.
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The "Friendship" Ice Palace burning in Donetsk this morning.
08:1927.5.2014
The latest vote tally shows Poroshenko in the home stretch.
08:1827.5.2014
A must-see CNN report on the truckloads of Russian gunmen in eastern Ukraine, purportedly from Chechnya.
08:1427.5.2014
CORRECTED: Pro-Kyivan Dmitry Tymchuk is now being quoted as saying a Russian was killed when authorities engaged a "convoy" illegally crossing the border -- presumably this is the same Luhansk incident we reported earlier.
08:1027.5.2014
Moscow has called for Ukrainian authorities to duly inform the OSCE about events in Donetsk, where military forces and gunmen have been involved in heavy fighting since the militants tried to seize an international airport there early yesterday. Leaders of the self-styled "Donetsk People's Republic" had said earlier in the day that they were declaring martial law in the region.
There's been a lull in the fighting for the past few hours after around 12 hours of intense conflict that reportedly included mortar rounds and air strikes.
Here are some images from Donetsk airport from yesterday, including a number of photos from AFP inside the airport as the separatists occupied it and set up defense positions:
Gunfire, Blasts As Donetsk Airport Becomes Scene Of Heavy Fighting
1/11Pro-Russian separatists of the self-proclaimed "Vostok Battalion" preparing to board a truck at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the city of Donetsk on May 25.
Heavy fighting broke out on May 26 at the international airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a major foothold for pro-Russian separatists. After reports early in the day said gunmen had stormed the airport and forced its closure, Ukrainian troops rushed to the scene. Explosions and gunfire erupted, sending smoke into the skies as the fighting continued. Fighter aircraft were also deployed to the scene. With the battle still raging, AFP reported that Ukrainian security forces had attacked after a deadline to the separatist occupiers expired.
2/11Pro-Russian separatists said to be from the self-proclaimed "Vostok Battalion" cheered on their comrades aboard a truck at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Donetsk on election day, one day before the airport fighting.
Heavy fighting broke out on May 26 at the international airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a major foothold for pro-Russian separatists. After reports early in the day said gunmen had stormed the airport and forced its closure, Ukrainian troops rushed to the scene. Explosions and gunfire erupted, sending smoke into the skies as the fighting continued. Fighter aircraft were also deployed to the scene. With the battle still raging, AFP reported that Ukrainian security forces had attacked after a deadline to the separatist occupiers expired.
3/11A military truck with heavily armed pro-Russian militants drives through a police checkpoint toward the airport of the eastern city of Donetsk.
Heavy fighting broke out on May 26 at the international airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a major foothold for pro-Russian separatists. After reports early in the day said gunmen had stormed the airport and forced its closure, Ukrainian troops rushed to the scene. Explosions and gunfire erupted, sending smoke into the skies as the fighting continued. Fighter aircraft were also deployed to the scene. With the battle still raging, AFP reported that Ukrainian security forces had attacked after a deadline to the separatist occupiers expired.
4/11Pro-Russian militants patrolling Donetsk's international airport early on May 26, before the heavy fighting erupted.
Heavy fighting broke out on May 26 at the international airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a major foothold for pro-Russian separatists. After reports early in the day said gunmen had stormed the airport and forced its closure, Ukrainian troops rushed to the scene. Explosions and gunfire erupted, sending smoke into the skies as the fighting continued. Fighter aircraft were also deployed to the scene. With the battle still raging, AFP reported that Ukrainian security forces had attacked after a deadline to the separatist occupiers expired.
5/11A pro-Russian militant takes up a position atop the Donetsk airport's roof.
Heavy fighting broke out on May 26 at the international airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a major foothold for pro-Russian separatists. After reports early in the day said gunmen had stormed the airport and forced its closure, Ukrainian troops rushed to the scene. Explosions and gunfire erupted, sending smoke into the skies as the fighting continued. Fighter aircraft were also deployed to the scene. With the battle still raging, AFP reported that Ukrainian security forces had attacked after a deadline to the separatist occupiers expired.
6/11The militants set up a mortar launcher atop Donetsk's international airport.
Heavy fighting broke out on May 26 at the international airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a major foothold for pro-Russian separatists. After reports early in the day said gunmen had stormed the airport and forced its closure, Ukrainian troops rushed to the scene. Explosions and gunfire erupted, sending smoke into the skies as the fighting continued. Fighter aircraft were also deployed to the scene. With the battle still raging, AFP reported that Ukrainian security forces had attacked after a deadline to the separatist occupiers expired.
7/11The terminal of Donetsk international airport is seen behind a cemetery.
Heavy fighting broke out on May 26 at the international airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a major foothold for pro-Russian separatists. After reports early in the day said gunmen had stormed the airport and forced its closure, Ukrainian troops rushed to the scene. Explosions and gunfire erupted, sending smoke into the skies as the fighting continued. Fighter aircraft were also deployed to the scene. With the battle still raging, AFP reported that Ukrainian security forces had attacked after a deadline to the separatist occupiers expired.
8/11Smoke rises from Donetsk's international airport during heavy fighting between Ukrainian and pro-Russian forces on May 26.
Heavy fighting broke out on May 26 at the international airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a major foothold for pro-Russian separatists. After reports early in the day said gunmen had stormed the airport and forced its closure, Ukrainian troops rushed to the scene. Explosions and gunfire erupted, sending smoke into the skies as the fighting continued. Fighter aircraft were also deployed to the scene. With the battle still raging, AFP reported that Ukrainian security forces had attacked after a deadline to the separatist occupiers expired.
9/11Smoke rises through a cemetery over the Donetsk airport during fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists.
Heavy fighting broke out on May 26 at the international airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a major foothold for pro-Russian separatists. After reports early in the day said gunmen had stormed the airport and forced its closure, Ukrainian troops rushed to the scene. Explosions and gunfire erupted, sending smoke into the skies as the fighting continued. Fighter aircraft were also deployed to the scene. With the battle still raging, AFP reported that Ukrainian security forces had attacked after a deadline to the separatist occupiers expired.
10/11Smoke billows from Donetsk airport during heavy fighting between Ukrainian and pro-Russian forces.
Heavy fighting broke out on May 26 at the international airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a major foothold for pro-Russian separatists. After reports early in the day said gunmen had stormed the airport and forced its closure, Ukrainian troops rushed to the scene. Explosions and gunfire erupted, sending smoke into the skies as the fighting continued. Fighter aircraft were also deployed to the scene. With the battle still raging, AFP reported that Ukrainian security forces had attacked after a deadline to the separatist occupiers expired.
11/11A Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter gunship fires its cannons at rebels at the main terminal building of Donetsk's international airport on May 26.
Heavy fighting broke out on May 26 at the international airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a major foothold for pro-Russian separatists. After reports early in the day said gunmen had stormed the airport and forced its closure, Ukrainian troops rushed to the scene. Explosions and gunfire erupted, sending smoke into the skies as the fighting continued. Fighter aircraft were also deployed to the scene. With the battle still raging, AFP reported that Ukrainian security forces had attacked after a deadline to the separatist occupiers expired.
