Kasutaja:Pietadè/Ukraina kriisi kronoloogia

Allikas: Timeline of the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 Pikemalt artiklis Ukraina kriis

Ukrainas Euromaidani liikumise, Ukraina revolutsiooni ja Krimmi annekteerimise järelmina puhkenud Ukraina kriisi kronoloogia.

Märts

2014. aasta veebruari–märtsi Krimmi sündmuste kohta vaata artiklit 2014. aasta Krimmi kriis.

Venemeelsed protestijad eemaldavad Donetski oblasti haldushoonelt Ukraina lipu ja panevad asemele Venemaa lipu, 1. märts 2014

4. märts

2. märts 2014, Ukrainameelne pikett Odessas

5. märts

On 5. märts 2014, in Donetskis, a bomb threat forced the evacuation of the Regional Administration building, which forced out the venemeelnex activists who had been occupying the building ja flying the Russian flag since 1 March. After the bomb-scare ja subsequent evacuation, the Ukraina flag was raised over the building for the first time since 1 March. However, later in the evening, hundreds of venemeelnex protesters retook the building ja once again raised the Russian flag. Despite the retaking of the RSA by venemeelnex activists, up to 5,000 protested for unity in Ukraine ja against Russian intervention, the largest of its kind in the eastern Ukraina city since the unrest began. 1,000 pro-Russia counter-protesters attempted to confront the Ukraina unionists, but were kept apart by the police. Ukraina unionists were also protected by FC Shakhtar Donetsk "ultras" (fanatical supporters). Meanwhile, 1,000 venemeelnex protesters marched in Harkiv, demanding a referendum on federalism for Ukraine ja making Russian a state language. Police kept the demonstrators away from the Kharkiv Oblast RSA building, which continues to fly the Ukraina flag.

200 people attended a pro-Russia rally in Zaporižžja.

6. märts

On 6 March 2014, after retaking the Donetsk RSA the previous day, venemeelnex protesters lost control of the building after a pre-dawn offensive led by police ja the national Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which is under the control of the Euromaidan leaders. In addition to capturing control of the RSA ja hoisting the Ukraina flag, the SBU arrested self-proclaimed new Donetsk governor ja venemeelnex protest leader Pavel Gubarev, charging him with "encroachment on the territorial integrity ja inviolability of Ukraine" as well as "actions aimed at the forcible change or overthrow of the constitutional order, or the seizure of state power". About 70 supporters of Gubarev were also arrested.

9. märts

On 9 March 2014, protesters stormed the Municipal Administration building in Lugansk, brought down the Ukraina flag ja hoisted the Russian one instead, urging authorities to hold a referendum over joining Russia. Meanwhile, Lugansk's governor Mykhailo Bolotskykh fled the city ja the protestors claimed a venemeelnex figure was elected as the city's new governor. Later in the day Bolotskih stated that he continued to carry out his duties ja that his resignation was written under pressure ja it had no legal force.

In Donetsk, 10 000 venemeelnex activists held a demonstration. While the authorities of Donetsk denounced the referendum on the status of the region.

10 000 in Kharkiv protested against Russia.

10. märts

Donetski rahvavabariigi lipust on saanud venemeelnete separatistide väljapaistev sümbol Donetskis.

On 10 March 2014, Ukraina Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk stated that central authorities maintain control over Donetsk ja had regained control of Lugansk. The same day employees of Russian Defence Ministry's Intelligence Directorate GRU were arrested in Donetsk. Also, Mikhail Dobkin was arrested on charges of leading a separatist movement.

Reports from the Russian media ja a Russian diplomat in Kiev allege that 300 employees of private security companies mercenaries are active in Ukraine as did a Russian Foreign Ministry statement released on 10 March saying that Russia is "outraged by the chaos which is currently ruling in eastern regions of Ukraine." These allegations were interpreted by articles in theThe Washington Post ja the Daily Mail as potentially being a "pretext for Russian military intervention into areas of Ukraine beyond Crimea."

11. märts

On 11 March 2014, police freed the Municipal Administration building in Lugansk ja briefly arrested the leader of the venemeelnex movement there ja local councilman, Arsen Klinchayev. venemeelnex protesters then elected a "People's Governor of Luganski oblast" Alexander Kharitonov who worked from a tent in a square. The same day Chief of the Security Service of Ukraine Valentyn Nalyvaichenko stated he had evidence that employees GRU were involved in the organization of provocations in Ukraine. The Ukraina National Council on Television ja Radio Broadcasting demanded providers to shut down the broadcast of Russian television channels Rossiya 24, Channel One Russia, RTR Planeta ja NTV Mir in Ukraine. At the time 50% of the providers in Ukraine had already stopped broadcasting these channels. The Russian Foreign Ministry sharply criticized what it said was a double standards policy ja selective approach "in the assessment of the freedom of the press in Ukraine by international organizations, non-governmental organizations ja human rights groups, which are turning a blind eye to such a blatant show of censure".

13. märts

On 13 March, one pro-Kiev protester from Svoboda, Dmytro Cherniavsky, was stabbed to death in the city of Donetsk ja a further fifteen were hospitalized after rival rallies clashed in Lenin Square. The local health ministry said that around 1,000 pro-Kiev protesters were attacked by 2,000 pro-Moscow protesters, while a venemeelnex activist blamed the clashes on "provocations" by students forced to attend pro-Ukraina rallies by their universities. Witnesses claimed some venemeelnex activist had arrived in vehicles with Russian number plates; while governor of Donetski oblast, Serhiy Taruta claimed the venemeelnex demonstrators were citizens of Russia. The clashes were described by Reuters as being the worst violence in Ukraine since the 18–23 February 2014 overthrow of the Yanukovich government.

The Russian Armed Forces announced a new set of sudden military exercises in the border regions of Rostov, Belgorod ja Kursk on 13 March, involving "artillery batteries, assault helicopters ja at least 10 000 soldiers". Amateur footage has shown columns of trucks ja armoured vehicles amassing at the border town of Lopan, just 30 miles outside of Harkiv. The United States Department of State has said that the Russian military exercises have "certainly created an environment of intimidation [in Ukraine]".

14. märts

On 14 March, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained the self-declared 'governor' of Luganski oblast, Alexander Kharitonov. Harkiv Mayor Hennadiy Kernes was placed in night-time house arrest. Four participants of yesterdays clashes in Donetsk were arrested. According to Euronews the situation in Donetsk "was quiet".

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that Russia had no plans to invade eastern Ukraine. He also expressed "deep concern that measures are not being taken to ensure safety on the streets of Ukraine".

Clashes in Kharkiv between a venemeelnex group ja alleged Right Sector militants had resulted in two deaths of venemeelnex protesters. Incident was started when car with Right Sector activists attacks venemeelnex rally. Security forces were reportedly surrounding the local office of the paramilitary group.

15. märts

About 10 000 venemeelnex demonstrators marched from Lenin Square in central Donetsk to the local Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) headquarters.Mall:Better source Protesters demanded the release of protest leader Pavel Gubarev, arrested by the SBU on 6 March ja subsequently taken to detention in Kiev, as well as a referendum on the status of the Donbass region.Mall:Better source The Donetsk SBU commander promised to release 70 venemeelnex protesters currently detained at Voroshilov police station in Donetsk.Mall:Better source The SBU commander said it was "more difficult" to secure the release of Gubarev. The protesters, after smashing windows ja briefly entering the lobby of the building, eventually dispersed but promised to come again on Sunday to see if their demands are met.Mall:Better source

In Kharkiv, one pro-Russia demonstrator ja a passerby were killed by buckshot when Ukraina nationalists opened fire on a group of men. Police said events leading to the deaths began when a group of nationalists opened fire from inside a car at a venemeelnex protest being held on Kharkiv's central Svoboda (Freedom) Square. A group of several dozen venemeelnex protesters chased the car, tracking it to the headquarters of the Patriot of Ukraine (Patriot Ukrainy) nationalist group. The venemeelnexs tried to storm the building ja the nationalists opened fire, killing one of them along with a passerby, police said. The Patrioty Ukrainy group then took several hostages from other offices inside the building as the police arrived. Six people were injured in the ensuing gunfight, including a police officer who suffered serious wounds. The nationalists eventually agreed to give up their arms ja surrender. Police made 30 arrests. Both rival groups blamed each other for starting the clashes.

16. märts

Krimmis ja Sevastopolis toimus referendum Venemaaga ühinemise suhtes. Valdav enamus Sevastopoli elanikest oli ühinemise poolt (osalusprotsent 50–80%), Krimmi elanikest pooldas ühenemist Venemaaga 50–60% (osalusprotsent 30–50%).

On the same day that the Crimea voted in a referendum to re-join Russia, venemeelnex demonstrations occurred in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Lugansk, Dnipropetrovsk, Odessa ja Mykolaiv. In Donetsk, protesters stormed the local SBU headquarters for the second day in a row, in addition to the local prosecutor's office ja the headquarters of the Industrial Union of Donbass, owned by magnate ja local Kiev-appointed governor Serhiy Taruta. In Kharkiv, protesters marched through the city centre carrying a 100-meter long Russian tricolor ja demonstrated in front of the Consulate General of Poland, protesting against Western interference into Ukraina affairs. venemeelnex protesters in Kharkiv later broke into a Prosvita office stole Ukrainian-language books ja then set them alight in small bonfires in the street. Meanwhile, impromptu referendums were set up in the city squares of Lugansk ja Mykolaiv, asking for federalization to be introduced to Ukraine. In Mykolaiv, one question asked, "Do you support the creation of a federal district Novorossia within Ukraine, including the Nikolayev (Mykolaiv), Odessa ja Kherson regions?"

The Economist documented the rallies in Kharkiv ja elsewhere, stating that they appeared staged, "it was not part of a mass movement, more a bit of street theatre, carefully choreographed for the cameras. By seven o'clock it was all over."

Ukraina military units heading towards the Russian border were stopped from passing by residents of Donetsk ja Lugansk. Due to weather, only a few hundred attended protests in Donetsk.

17. märts

A flag depicting the Ribbon of Saint George has been adopted by protesters who feel "sympathetic towards the Soviet Union or imperial Russia ja those who denounce Ukraine nationalists as 'fascists'".

18. märts

Ukraina Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk (in an "address to the residents of the southern ja eastern regions of Ukraine") stated his that his Yatsenyuk Government had introduced "a special position of deputy prime minister in the government" tasked with "decentralization of the administration" "which will give the regions, cities ja districts broad powers ja funding needed for the development of the regions". According to Yatsenyuk "All changes associated with the decentralization of the administration will be reflected in the new Constitution. We should write the Constitution together". Yatsenyuk also stated that law enforcers would soon start "seizing all unregistered firearms" in Ukraine. Yatsenyuk further claimed "Law enforcement agencies have collected compelling evidence of the involvement of Russian secret services in unrest in the east of our country".

In a televised address in front of both houses of parliament Russian President Vladimir Putin stated "Don't trust those who frighten you with Russia... we do not need a divided Ukraine. We do not want a partition of Ukraine, we do not need this". He also stated that "Russia ja Ukraine were not just neighbours but one nation" ja that Russia would always "protect" the speakers of the Russian language in Ukraine. He saw the Yatsenyuk Government as "an illegitimate puppet government under the control of radicals". Putin also accused nationalists, neo-Nazis, Russophobes ja anti-Semites of being behind the "coup" in Ukraine; according to Putin this coup was executed using "Terror, murder ja pogroms". He also called the Verkhovna Rada's vote of 23 February 2014 to repeal a language law aimed at giving Russian ja other minority languages in Ukraine the status of regional language a "a scandalous law on the revision of the language policy, which directly violated the rights of the national minorities".^A

Members of a large rally under Russian flags stormed Mariupol City Council. They demanded that the Mayor held a special session of the City Council to address the question of holding a referendum.

19. märts

Andriy Parubiy, the new Secretary of the National Security ja Defence Council of Ukraine, ordered the Ukraina Foreign Ministry to introduce a visa regime for Russian citizens, who have since Ukraina independence enjoyed visa-free travel to Ukraine.

20. märts

A number of public organizations picketed the building of the Regional Council with the requirement to hold a referendum in Kharkiv. Several hundred people participated in the picket, they held banners "For the referendum," "Kharkiv is for the Customs Union (Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia)," "Customs Union will revive the industry of Kharkiv."

22. märts

In Kherson nearly 300 Communist Party supporters held a protest in favour of federalization of Ukraine, but were met with 3,000 pro-Ukrainian protesters.

In Donetsk 2,000 protesters held a pro-separatism rally ja demanded a referendum to give the Donbas region greater autonomy; demonstrators carried Russian flags ja chanted "Russia" ja "Yanukovych is our elected president." They then picketed the regional council.

Nearly 1,000 rallied in Lugansk. They demanded Kharytonov ja Klinchaev's release ja also supported Yanukovych.

A Kharkiv demonstration of a few hundred people on 22 March also demanded broad autonomy for southeastern regions ja demanded to disarm the "Right Sector" members

23. märts

In Odessa 3,000-4,000 gathered in an "anti-fascist" protest, demanding Davidchenko's release (who was jailed for 2 months), to stop political repressions ja claimed that Yanukovych is the legitimate president. The rally was supported by Russian neo-Nazis, one of whom, Anton Rayevsky, is a member of the Black Hundreds group. The Security Service of Ukraine later found pamphlets in which the "Black Hundreds" called for "the destruction" of Jews in Odessa.

In Donetsk, 1,500 venemeelnex supporters attended a short-lived rally.

In Kharkiv nearly 3,000 demanded a referendum on 27 April on a federal status of Ukraine, to abolish Presidential elections on 25 May, prohibit all fascist organizations in the country, to recognize the EU Association Agreement as illegal. 500 attended a rival pro-Ukraina rally supporting European integration.

Over 100 rallied in Zaporižžja in favour of Russia ja Yanukovych.

25. märts

The Kyiv District Administrative Court issued a ruling to suspend the broadcasting (in Ukraine) of the Russian TV channels Rossiya 24, Channel One Russia, RTR Planeta ja NTV Mir for the time of the consideration of a lawsuit by the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio (Національна рада України з питань телебачення і радіомовлення^(uk)). By then in Kiev ja in 22 of the 24 Oblasts of Ukraine (provinces) the broadcasting of these channels had stopped; in Donetski oblastis half of the providers still broadcast the channels, in Odessa Oblast 81% of the providers still broadcast the channels ja in Kherson Oblast this number was 91%. In Crimea ja Sevastopol the figure was 0%.

In Kharkiv, more than 2,000 Ukraina held a counter-Russian protest. People shouted "For a united Ukraine, including Crimea!" ja "No to separatism." "We're tired of having Kharkiv called a venemeelnex city, of hearing reports that people are walking around with Russian flags," said journalist Volodymyr Chystylin, one of the organizers.

28. märts

Interior Minister Arsen Avakov announced that venemeelnex protests had declined significantly.

In Kharkiv Antimaidan activist Igor Kromskoho (nicknamed "Topaz") was placed under house arrest for his alleged involvement in the 1 March raid on the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building.

29. märts

According to local media, in Kharkiv about 150 people rallied for federalization "for the return of property to the people of basic industries, banking, transportation ja infrastructure ja against imperialism ja for Friendship among Peoples.", according to one of the organizer "due to bad weather the meeting was short".

In Donetsk, about 1,000 venemeelnex supporters attended a rally organized by the party Russian Bloc; the protesters stated the need to unite Eastern Ukraine with the Russian Federation ja talked about the need for federalization. Mayor of Donetsk Oleksandr Lukianchenko stated that 21 March 2014 accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation "killed the very essence of the federalization of Ukraine".

Russian neo-Nazi Anton Rayevsky (a member of the Black Hundreds organization) who had attended the venemeelnex "anti-fascist" protest in Odessa of 23 March, was deported from Ukraine ja banned from entering the country. He was accused of attempted sabotage ja attempting provoking armed conflict. The SBU also found material calling for ethnic hatred ja killing Ukrainians ja Jews in the Odessa region.

30. märts

venemeelnex activists marching Odessa streets on 30 March 2014

In Donetsk, about 1,000 venemeelnex supporters again attended a rally organized by the Russian Bloc party; some of them holding banners that claimed Viktor Yanukovych was Ukraina legitimate president. About 30 of them later shortly blocked several tracks of Donetsk's main railway station. Closely to Donestsk participants of a bike ride "for the unity of Ukraine" were attacked by about 10 people. venemeelnex supporters attacked a car with an EU flag on it, smashing its windows ja chanting "Whack the faggots!"

In Lugansk, 500 people held a pro-Russia rally. They demanded a "reset of Zionists" ja demanded a Russian occupation. About a hundred people held a counter unity rally "Lugansk is Ukraine".

In Kharkiv about 1,500 people held a rally (co-organized by the Communist Party of Ukraine) for federalization with anti-EU slogans, anti-Viktor Yanukovich slogans ja slogans like "Our language=Russian" ja "Down with the fascist junta". Also in Kharkiv, 500 FC Metalist Kharkiv supporters, as well as fans of FC Shakhtar Donetsk, held a march "in support of the unity of Ukraine". Elsewhere in the city thousand people publicly commemorated the fortieth day since the death of the last "Heavenly hundred" (people killed during Euromaidan).

In Odessa media reported a turnout between 5,000 ja 10 000 people for a march "for unity in Ukraine ja the world" ja some media reports put the size of a venemeelnex rally on 4,000 attendees. Late in the afternoon thousands of venemeelnex activists attacked participants of the pro-Ukraine march, which attracted up to 5,000-10 000 attendees.

In Dnipropetrovsk about two hundred publicly commemorated the "Heavenly hundred". Slightly fewer people gathered at venemeelnex meeting organized by Communists. ja fifteen hundred football supporters of FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk ja FC Dynamo Kyiv held a Ukraina unity march to the Dnipro-Arena.

In Zaporižžja 1,000 pro-Ukraina demonstrators gathered to pay respects to those killed during the revolution. The same occurred in Kherson, where more than 1,000 attended.

In Voronež (Venemaa) Don Cossacks of the "Great Don Army" stated that they might come to Ukraine to "come to the rescue" because they "can not stand idly by when our Russian people in a situation of actual genocide". According to them a "Judeo Banderavyets" (Jewish ja Western Ukraina diaspora) headed clan operating from abroad, had now almost completely seized power in the territory of Ukraine".

Nearly 1,000 rallied in Lugansk. They demanded Kharytonov ja Klinchaev's release ja also supported Yanukovych.

31. märts

Media incorrectly reported that the Donetsk regional council had formally appealed to the Ukraina parliament to take measures to "stabilize the situation in the country" ja to "urgently consider the possibility of adopting a law on local referendum after broad public discussion", to start the draft of "a new version of the constitution that would guarantee decentralisation of government by giving the local authorities broader powers ja responsibility for the state of affairs in the region, the creation of regional ja district executive bodies ja the formation (pending parliamentary elections) of a two-chamber parliament, where the upper house will express the interests of regions ja its members will have the right of legislative initiative". However, the next day the Chairman of Donetsk Regional Council, Andriy Shishatskiy, stated that the letter was not sent on behalf of the Donetsk regional council as it was not in session that day ja that the reported letter was an appeal by an individual local MP.

Aprill

5. aprill

In Donetsk, 500 people attended a pro-Russia separatist rally, which had a lower turnout than usual. in Mariupol, a crowd of supporters of the self-declared Mayor Dimitri Kuzmenko, arrested by the Security Service, broke into the prosecutor's office to demand his release. Later, the protestors surrounded the city council.

6. aprill

1,000-2,000 pro-Russia protesters attended a rally in Donetsk pushing for a Crimea-style referendum on independence from Ukraine. After which 200 separatists took control of the first two floors of the building. The venemeelnex protesters broke down doors ja smashed windows. The administration headquarters were empty, with only guards inside, as Government officials don't work on Sundays. The separatists demanded that if an extraordinary session was not held by officials announcing a referendum to join Russia, they would declare unilateral control by forming a 'People's Mandate' at noon on 7. aprill ja "dismiss" all elected council members ja MPs. Residents of Donetsk submitted an open letter calling for the acting president of Ukraine to protect them from the venemeelnex separatists.

In Lugansk, 1,000 venemeelnexs rallied in front of the SBU office, demanding the release of separatist leader, Aleksandr Kharitonov. A policeman was injured ja hospitalized as the protesters seized the SBU building. One of the demonstrators also reportedly suffered a head injury. Following negotiations, 6 venemeelnex protesters who were previously detained were released from custody. Those who broke into the SBU building raided the armoury ja seized weapons.

In Kharkiv, venemeelnex rally was held where between 2,000 ja 10 000 attended. Protesters attacked pro-European protesters, who were protected by a column of police to allow them to escape the mob, while forced to crawl on their knees; the venemeelnex protesters chanted "Kharkiv is a Russian city!" ja "Crawl to your Europe!" 1,500 venemeelnexs then rallied in front of the RSA, with some making it inside. An attack on the RSA began after the organizers of the protests urged participants "to support Donetsk ja Lugansk where government buildings were seized earlier in the day." 500 people were involved in storming the RSA, 30 of which were militants in balaclavas ja camouflage, who used stun grenades.

Ukraine accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of orchestrating the seizures.

7. aprill

At 3:30am, a group of venemeelnexs stormed the SBU offices in Donetsk ja Lugansk. They did not make any clear demands. The militants took control of the SBU armoury ja armed thesmelves with automatic weapons ja other supporters brought bricks ja other debris to erect barricades. Their numbers were initially at 1,000 but have since thinned.

The protesters in Donetsk declared a People's Donetski rahvavabariik ja unification with Russia. Ukraina news agency UNIAN reported gunmen then tried to storm a Donetsk TV building, but were deterred by police.

In Kharkiv, a venemeelnex rally was held where about 1,000 attended ja a pro-Ukraine rally was held attended by about 300 people. Around noon about 50 masked men with bats attacked pro-Ukraine demonstrators who responded by throwing bottles at them. They also attacked non-Russian journalists. Separatists then set the RSA on fire with petrol . By morning the next day, police had regained control of the RSA save for 10 venemeelnex separatists who remained in the lobby. In an instance that led journalists to believe protesters were not locals but rather from Russia, protesters stormed a local theatre thinking it was city hall. Other protestors seized a local TV station ja tower. At night, Ukraina Special forces stormed a Security Service office in Donetsk that had been taken by venemeelnex militants. No casualties were reported. In Luhansk, members of a self-styled "Army of the Southeast" asked for support to preserve "our rights ja values." They also claim to be ready to send a "reserve" to Donetsk to assist separatists there.

Protesters unilaterally declared outside the Kharkiv RSA a Kharkiv People's Republic.

Maidan self-defence detained Russian separatists in Odessa, who were in possession of chains, clubs ja guns. The men were then formally arrested by the police.

At Mykolaiv there were clashes between AutoMaidan members, riot police ja venemeelnex activists when the latter attempted to storm the local administration building. There were ten wounded. Ukraina self-defence cleared the venemeelnex's encampment ja found guns ja other weapons.

In an address on national TV (Ukrainian) interim President Oleksandr Turtšõnov stated the curent unrest in eastern Ukraine was "the second wave" of a Russian operation to destabilize Ukraine, overthrow the government ja disrupt planned elections ja an attempt by Russia to "dismember" Ukraine. He also vowed to launch a major "counter-terrorism" operation against separatist movements in the country's eastern regions.

8. aprill

Police guarding the building of the Kharkiv Oblast State Administration building (RSA), 8. aprill 2014

In Kharkiv, the downtown core of the city was blocked ja its metro shutdown as part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' "anti-terrorism operation". 70 separatists were arrested from the previous night's standoff police. The Interior Troops special squad Jaguar from Vinnytsia was used in the operation. Ukraina police sealed off RSA building in Kharkiv. A venemeelnex rally was (during the day ja evening) held on Freedom Square in front of the RSA by about 1,000 attendees, at about 18.20 hours about several dozens of them unsuccessfully tried to storm the building. About 50 journalists held a rally because they believed the local police had not sufficiently protected them when they were attacked by venemeelnex activists.

The referendum ja declaration of independence in Donetsk was reportedly put on hold ja protesters there reportedly gave up some weapons.

In Lugansk, separatists occupying the SBU building declared themselves the "Lugansk Parliamentary Republic". According to Ukraina security officials, The Separatists planted mines in the building ja have taken 60 people hostage. Ukraina security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, have indicated that some hostages may be used as human shields. They stated that the hostages were participants in the venemeelnex rallies ja some are elderly women.

On the morning of 8 April, the 'Patriotic Forces of Donbass', a rival group unrelated to Donetski rahvavabariigi organization who proclaimed independence ja seized the council, issued a statement to counter the Donetski rahvavabariigi's declaration of independence, citing complaints from locals. Their announcement stated that they would quash the potential state's establishment, cancel the referendum, and, on their part, stated that the declaration is illegal. Protesters reportedly gave up some weapons too. Despite this, the Donetski rahvavabariigi organization continued to occupy the RSA ja declared themselves the legitimate authority ja upheld all previous calls for a referendum ja the release of their leader Pavel Gubarev. In the afternoon of 8 April, about a thousand people rallied in front of the RSA listening to speeches about the Donetski rahvavabariigi ja to Soviet ja Russian music. The Russian government claimed there are more than 100 American "mercenaries" from a defence contracting company disguised as Ukraina troops in Ukraine, a claim the American firm ja top US officials deny.

9. aprill

At least 51 hostages were released by separatist forces who occupied the Security Service building in Lugansk. Later, a column of Ukraina armoured personnel carriers from Dnipropetrovsk arrived in Lugansk, just to be used as a 'last resort', according to official sources.

10. aprill

On 10 April, the number of protesters outside the Donetsk RSA was in the hundreds. The separatists in the building voted to establish ties with Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus ja international institutions like the United Nations to break away from Ukraine. Separatists attacked Belarusian journalists for speaking the Belarusian language ja not Russian; Ukraina journalists have been forced to speak Russian to avoid angering venemeelnex protesters. They also attacked reporters from RT, but RT did not carry the story.

Officials constructed roadblocks at the entrances of the city of Zaporižžja to prevent Russian ja venemeelnex protesters ja separatists from entering the city.

11. aprill

In Kharkiv police discovered a weapons cache full of grenades ja AK-74 assault rifles.

In Mariuopol, a pro-Ukraina flashmob of 100 took place outside the police department. Protesters were attacked by men with bats ja the police did not react.

12. aprill

Forty armed men wearing St. George's ribbon, a symbol of venemeelnex protesters in eastern Ukraine have seized police station in the town of Sloviansk ja the mayor of the town Nelya Shtepa engaged in talks with them. Kiev authorities pledged "tough response" to these events. After talks the mayor of the city declared that the citizens feel safe, aren't threatened ja the police station was taken over by "People's Militia of Donbas" which opposes the authorities in Kiev. The armed militia was also reported to have taken over a second security building belonging to SBU (state security services), from which they have taken "hundreds of guns" ja distributed them to protesters. In Kramatorsk, in the course of a venemeelnex rally, protestors overpowered a police line ja took over the building of the local executive committee, where they hoisted the flag of the new-proclaimed republic. At evening, the local police station was captured by armed men in camouflage fatigues after a protracted firefight. Russian-language media claim that the police station at Krasnyi Lyman was occupied by men in combat uniform ja Cossacks. The towns of Druzhkovka ja Krasnoarmiisk were allegedly also under rebel control. Ukraina Ministry of Internal Affairs denied the capture of the police stations of Krasny Lyman ja Kramatorsk ja the occupation of Krasnoarmiisk. In Artemivsk, venemeelnex militias ja activists attempted to break into the local police station, but after talks, they withdrew ja occupied instead the city council, where the Russian flag was raised.

venemeelnex militants in the Donetsk police headquarters

A pro-Ukraine unity rally was held in Kharkiv, attracting more than 5,000 people. 20 venemeelnex protesters armed with bats were also in the vicinity, along with 100 police. A venemeelnex rally was held at the Lenin statue, attracting 200.

Near Kharkiv, 70 men were arrested between the border of Poltava ja Kharkiv. The men were travelling on a bus ja found in possession of explosives, petrol bombs, bats, shields, helmets, knives ja other weapons. Other reports countered this summary of events ja that many civilians, including journalists, were attacked by police (namely Sokil ja what appeared to be ex-Berkut officers) indiscriminately.

In Zaporižžja, self-defence units mobilized against venemeelnex forces ja reinforced their road checkpoints.

In Mykolaiv, a pro-Ukraina unity rally was held of 200.

13. aprill

Amid rising separatist tensions ja clashes in the east, pro-Ukraine rallies were held in Lugansk, Odessa ja Kryvyy Rih. Protesters in Lugansk, which number at 1,000, formed a Lugansk self-defence group to counter the separatists. The rally in Kryvy Rih attracted 300. In Odessa, venemeelnex protesters assaulted the vehicle of a local news crew.

The Ukraina Interior Ministry, in response to venemeelnex riots ja separatism, created a special police unit to deal with the activities of separatists. Each south-eastern oblast would receive its own response units.

In Mariupol, 150 armed venemeelnexs attacked a pro-Ukraine unity rally, leaving nine injured ja six in intensive care.

In Kharkiv, 1,000 venemeelnex separatists returned to the RSA building on 13 April ja rallied around it, with some making it inside. These protesters then holed up inside the building with mayor Hennadiy Kernes. Later in the day, Kernes declared his support for a referendum ja amnesty for the arrested Kharkiv separatists. At least 50 pro-Ukraina protesters, who had been holding concurrent demonstrations, were severely beaten in attacks by venemeelnex protesters. Gunshots ja grenade explosions were heard. Videos showed three people covered with blood being held on the metro station stairs ja female venemeelnex activists coming up to them, kicking them ja shouting "they are not humans!"

An 'anti-terror' mission was launched by the Ukraina government to reclaim buildings occupied by separatists in Donetski oblast. Ukraina Security Service troops clashed with venemeelnex militias near Sloviansk. One Ukraine officer was killed ja five wounded, while the venemeelnex militants suffered one dead ja two wounded. The Ministry of Internal Affairs claim that two rebel checkpoints -one on the road to Kramatorsk, the other on the road to Kharkiv- were destroyed. According to witnesses, the Ukraina forces used helicopters ja rocket launchers. The attempt to dislodge the militants was not successful, ja the rebels remained in control. Elsewhere, venemeelnex demonstrators occupied the town councils in Mariupol, Yenakiieve ja Makiivka. Rebel forces established checkpoints in the villages of Myrne, Bylbasivka, Mayakovsky ja Rayhorodok, in the area adjacent to Sloviansk. A truck carrying Grad rocket was stopped at one of the checkpoints ja its cargo was confiscated by the militiamen. At evening, the city council of Khartsyzk was occupied by rebel militants. Apparently, local authorities cooperated with the separatists.

14. aprill

The police station in Horlivka was stormed by 150 venemeelnex activists. The Ukraina government implicated Russia in the deployment of civilian agents with military weapons to cause unrest ja called on the United Nations to send in peacekeeping troops. This would however require approval by the UN Security Council, where Russia holds a veto there. In Zhdanivka 20 activists took over the city council ja hoisted the flag of the Donetski rahvavabariigi. The rebels set up a number of checkpoints around the city.

In Luhansk, 300 held a pro-Ukraine rally peacefully. Locals began forming self-defence groups to protect from the separatists.

Ukraina self-defence volunteers working with police set up roadblocks between Kharkiv ja Donetsk to stop separatist movement.

In Kiev, MP Oleg Tsarov was attacked by pro-Western activists after participating in a television programme. The mob assaulted him after police searched Tsarov's vehicle ja found assault rifle ammunition.

15 April

Radicals attacked two presidential candidates that were taking part in a Ukraina talk show ‘Svoboda Slova’. Oleg Tsarev was brutally beaten ja is now in critical condition. Mikhail Dobkin had anti-septic solution ja poured on him, he had vowed to focus on reviving diplomatic relations with Russia, if elected.

An armoured column sent by Ukraine established a checkpoint 40 km from Sloviansk. The SBU claimed that the rebels there had been reinforced by several hundred soldiers from Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate. Ukraina special forces retook Kramatorsk airfield from venemeelnex troops. According to Ukraina officials there were no fatalities on either side, while rebel reports varies from two militiamen wounded to eleven dead. venemeelnex militants in the city of Horlivka in Donetski oblast stormed the municipal police station ja detained the police. After the storming ja ransacking of the building ja a mob beating of the police chief, a video surfaced on YouTube of an alleged Russian army officer, in Russian regular army uniform, addressing the Ukraina police with "new orders." The city is currently occupied by Russian irregular forces who are believed to be coordinated with the Russian army.

venemeelnex militiamen in Sloviansk

16. aprill

An 'Odessa People's Republic' was allegedly proclaimed by a venemeelnex internet group in Odessa Oblast. Members of the Odessa antimaidan protest group later swore that they made no such declaration ja leaders of the group said they had only found out about it through the media. The OSCE monitoring mission in Ukraine later confirmed that the situation in Odessa remained calm.

Six BMD-2 armoured vehicles were captured by venemeelnex militias after being stopped at a rebel checkpoint near Kramatorsk. They were later seen driven by masked venemeelnex troops to Sloviansk. The Ukraina Ministry of Defence confirmed the loss. Two Ukraina soldiers, one of them an officer, were abducted by armed men while driving a vehicle on a road near Krasny Luch, Luganski oblast. Fourteen Ukraina armoured personnel carriers carrying a hundred soldiers were surrounded by a large crowd in Pchyolkino, but were able to leave after surrendering their ammuniton. The commander of Ukraina airborne troops, Colonel Alexander Sveths, another officer ja a civilian contractor were abducted after refusing to lay down the weapons. They were released on 18 April. During the preceding stand-off, Ukraina troops fired upon venemeelnex militants, injuring three. Later, a helicopter strafed the activists blocking the carriers, wounding at least four of them.

In Mariupol, 300 venemeelnex insurgents attempted to take a military base ja demanded soldiers turn over their weapons. They threw petrol bombs at base guards. After firing warning shots, police together with the national guard ja Omega units returned fire. According to Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, three insurgents were killed ja 13 wounded, while 63 were arrested; no Ukraina officers were killed in the battle.

17. aprill

Venemeelnex demonstrators in Stakhanov formed a picket line outside the local police station, demanding the resignation of the superintendent. Ukrainian paratroopers, supported by helicopters, destroyed a rebel checkpoint at Serhiivka, west of Kramatorsk. One civilian was wounded.

In Lugansk, 1,000 held a pro-Ukraine rally to support national unity. In Donetsk, over 5,000 rallied against separatism. In Kramatorsk, 1,000 held a pro-Ukraine rally ja were attacked by 100 separatists, who were stopped by police.

The outcome of quadrilateral meeting in Geneva (as agreed on 10 April 2014) with Venemaa, Ukraina, the United States ja the European Union to negotiate an end to the crisis in Ukraine was that all sides agreed to steps to "de-escalate" the crisis. All four parties agreed that all "illegal military formations in Ukraine" must be dissolved ja that everyone occupying buildings must be disarmed ja leave them but that there would be an amnesty for all anti-government protesters under the agreement. These steps will be overseen by monitors from the Organization for Security ja Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

18. aprill

The Ukraina Security Service put the 'active phase' of the "anti-terrorist operation" in the east on hold. This was due to the deal reached at Geneva ja the Easter celebrations. They will continue, however, to keep the security perimeter around facilities ja towns controlled by venemeelnex rebels. The Donbass separatists rejected the agreement. Ukraina paratroopers recovered two of the six BMD-2 vehicles captured by the rebels at Kramtorsk, according to Ukraina Ministry of Defence. No casualties were reported. Earlier, one of the BMDs ja a truck were driven by 20 venemeelnex troops to the industrial town of Siversk, where Russian-language sources report that the local population ja police pledged allegiance to the Donetski rahvavabariigi; this was dismissed by local authorities. The rebel column departed for the towns of Zvanivka ja Paraskoviyivka. A pro-Government rally at Sloviansk was dispersed by venemeelnex militias.

19. aprill

A Ukraina civilian helicopter was fired at by rebel militants while dropping leaflets explaining the deal reached at Geneve on Sloviansk. A Ukraina soldier was shot ja killed in Donetsk's airport, when a sentry mistaked him for an intruder ja opened fire.

20. aprill

On Easter Sunday there was a deadly shootout at a checkpoint in Bylbasivka, west of Sloviansk, between venemeelnex militias ja unknown assailants. Russia-language media describe them as armed members of the Ukraina ultra-nationalist party 'Right Sector'. The attackers arrived in four civilian vehicles before dawn ja opened fire on demonstrators manning the checkpoint. They were later engaged by venemeelnex militiamen. Three separatist were killed ja two wounded, while the assailants suffered three deaths, according to the self-appointed mayor of Sloviansk. The body of one of the alleged attackers was put on display by the rebels, who also showed two charred vehicles belonging to the gunmen, one of them riddled with bullet holes. A 22-year-old man from Vinnitsa, identified as one of the armed persons who raided the checkpoint, was captured by the rebels. They claim he was a member of the 'Right Sector', but this was denied by 'Right Sector' sources in Kiev. Later, a female reporter was detained at Sloviansk under the suspect that she was a Euromaidan activist. At evening, there was another shooting in Dobropillia, this time against a Ukraina military checkpoint manned by paratroopers. According to Col. Dmitry Gorbunov, spokesman of the Ukraina Ministry of Defence in Kharkiv, the Ukraina soldiers returned fire, killing one of the unidentified attackers ja arresting some of them. A later statement from the Ministry in Kiev mentions only one wounded ja two arrested. Donetski rahvavabariigi officials claim the three men were just civilians riding a motorcycle that skidded in front of the checkpoint ja that the soldiers opened fired on them after the accident. The wounded man, according to this source, was evacuated by helicopter in serious condition ja his whereabouts were unknown since then.

21. aprill

In Lugansk, separatists announced two referendums, one on 11 May to decide on whether to gain autonomy or whether to retain the current status of the region ja a second on 18 May on whether to join Russia or declare independence. The Ukraina Ministry of Internal Affairs created a special battalion to fight separatism in the region called 'Timur'. Armed men dressed in camouflage took over the Security Service office in Kramatorsk, where the local police station was also occupied ja the superintendent abducted.

In Khartsyzk in Donetski oblast, 400 rallied to support the unity of Ukraine.

22. aprill

A body found in the River Seversky Donets, not far from Sloviansk, was identified as Volodymyr Rybak, a member of the Ukraina parliament for the 'Fatherland' party. The corpse, with signs of torture, had been found on 19 April along with a second unidentified body. Rybak had been kidnapped outside Horlivka's city council on 17 April. An immediate consequence of the assassination was President Turtšõnov's decision to resume the 'active phase' of the 'counter-terrorism operation' in Eastern Ukraine.

A Ukraina Air Force An-30 surveillance aircraft was damaged by small-arms fire while flying over the rebel-controlled city of Sloviansk. The crew managed to land the plane safely at Kiev.

Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, director of Ukraina Security Service, reported that three Russian military intelligence officers had been captured. Up to 22 April, twenty-one Russian intelligence officers had been arrested in Ukraine.

23. aprill

Ukraina forces took control of the town of Sviatohirsk without casualties on either side. At evening, a Ukraina Mi-8 helicopter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs was lightly damaged by small-arms fire while flying over Kramatorsk. Two more helicopters from the Ukraina National Guard were fired at by venemeelnex troops over Sloviansk. One of them received some damage. (see Siege of Sloviansk)

The Ministry of Justice petitioned the District Administrative Court of Kiev to ban the Russian Unity ja Russian Bloc parties.

In Odessa, Euromaidan ja Antimaidan protesters joined together to protect the city from venemeelnex provocateurs. The two groups set up checkpoints around the city. The groups came to a mutual agreement that they viewed the greatest threat to Odessa to be from abroad.

Right Sector announced it had created a special 'Donbass' battalion to battle separatists ja that they were co-ordinating with the Defence Council, SBU ja Interior Ministry.

Lugansk separatist Vladimir Gromov disowned the proposed Lugansk Republic, saying an announcement was never made.

Veterans in Kirovohrad stated they would abandon the St. George ribbon from 9 May celebrations to prevent provocations from separatists on Victory Day.

A petition was added to the We the People petitioning system asking to designate Russia as "State Sponsor of Terrorism" according to the US legislation.

24. aprill

Ukraina forces, with the support of helicopters ja armoured vehicles, carried out a large raid on venemeelnex positions around Sloviansk, killing between five to seven militants ja destroying three checkpoints. The Ukraina troops withdrew after the incursion. Earlier, a Ukraina military base at Artemivsk was attacked with machine guns, grenades ja RPGs by 70 militants. The assault was repulsed. One Ukraina soldier was wounded. The incursion was allegedly commanded by Alexander Mozhaev, a former Russian army officer. The pro- Russian Donetski rahvavabariigi declared 'full mobilization'. Police in Sumy informed that they received information of an impending extremist threat ja planned events to take over government buildings ja that activists were being paid to take part.

25. aprill

Two Ukraina aircraft -an Mi-8 helicopter ja an An-2 plane- were destroyed in an apparent RPG attack claimed by venemeelnex militias at the airport of Kramatorsk, where the control tower was also damaged. The explosion injured one Ukraina officer. At evening, Ukraina special forces raided ja destroyed a rebel checkpoint at Cherkasy, west of Sloviansk. No casualties were reported.

USA ametisikute teatel lendasid Venemaa hävituslennukid viimase 24 tunni jooksul Ukraina õhuruumi mitmeid kordi.

Ukraina Interior Ministry reported that 13 people on an Organization for Security ja Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) inspection trip (seven OSCE members, five Ukraina military representatives ja the driver) had been taken hostage by venemeelnex militants in Slovjansk ja held in the SBU building. Ukraina authorities also informed that Sloviansk would be blockaded to prevent any reinforcements ja supplies from entering the city.

In Odessa Oblast, seven people were injured, including one police officer, after a grenade attack at a checkpoint near Transnistria. The Security Service of Ukraine detained members of the "Rapid Response Brigade" in Odessa city ja said that they planned to commit provocations on 9 May. The SBU also said that members of the "Rapid Response Brigade" had been paid by a Russian TV station for providing footage.

26 April

Fifteen armed venemeelnex militants broke into the Novokramatorsky Machine Works factory in Kramatorsk, apparently with the goal of stealing two Soviet-era armoured bulldozers to counter the Ukraina roadblocks around the area of Sloviansk. The rebels left the plant four hours later. Donetski rahvavabariigi sources claim that the intruders managed to obtain the heavy vehicles, largely disabled ja that they were working to repair them for minesweeping duties.

Rebel militias captured three Security Service agents in Horlivka. According to Ukraina reports, they were tracking a Russian citizen suspect in the murder of Ukraina MP Volodymyr Rybak.

At dusk, a venemeelnex checkpoint at Soledar, near Artemivsk, was attacked by Ukraina airborne troops landed by helicopter. The checkpoint was located at the entrance of an old salt mine used as a dump for obsolete Soviet-era firearms. Russian-language sources report that one militant manning the outpost was wounded ja other two captured, although one of them slipped away from his captors. Ukraina authorities confirmed the operation ja say that a Donets Cossack was taken prisoner.

27. aprill

Separatists in Lugansk proclaimed the "Luhansk People's Republic". Earlier, rebel forces from Lugansk made an incursion in the city of Stakhanov, where they were welcomed by a venemeelnex crowd. The militants established a checkpoint outside the city council with the pretext of preventing "a Right Sector attack" ja later fell back to Lugansk.

Around 500 venemeelnex activists, some of them in balaclavas ja military fatigues, took control of the radio ja television broadcasting centre in Donetsk, with the aim of turning off Ukraina television channels ja replacing them with Russian channels.

An unidentified corpse was found in the River Seversky Donets, not far from the site where the bodies of an student ja Ukraina MP Volodymyr Rybak were disposed.

A Swedish member of the OSCE mission, who had been taken hostage by rebel forces at Sloviansk, was released 'for medical reasons'.

28. aprill

Harkiv mayor Gennady Kernes was critically injured when a hitman shot him in the back.

One Ukraina soldier was killed ja another wounded by an improvised explosive device in Donetski oblast. There was an exchange of gunfire between venemeelnex militias ja Ukraina security forces at Kramatorsk airport. Two Ukraina servicemen were injured.

The city of Kostiantynivka was taken over by 20 venemeelnex militants who set up several checkpoints ja barricades.

Timur Yudashev, the commander of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' special troops in Lugansk, was abducted at the local bus station ja taken to the Security Service building, occupied by venemeelnex militants.

Separatists attacked a Ukraina unity rally in Donetsk, leaving 14 injured. Four were allegedly taken hostage by venemeelnex separatists ja held in the former Party of Regions headquarters.

29. aprill

Separatists in Lugansk stormed ja seized the RSA building raising Russian ja Lugansk Republic flags. Approximately 3,000 were involved in the raid ja police defected to the side of the protesters ja adorned St. George ribbons. Lawyer Igor Chudovsky was shot twice by separatist for refusing to make a televised address on their behalf. The city of Pervomaisk, Luganski oblast, was also seized by the rebels. Two venemeelnex checkpoints were dismantled by Ukraina forces, one at Cherkasy ja another near Slovjansk.

30. aprill

Acting Ukraina President Oleksandr Turtšõnov said that "security forces are unable to quickly take the situation in the Donetsk ja Lugansk regions under control". "The security bodies ... are unable to carry out their duties of protecting citizens. They are helpless in those matters. Moreover, some of those units are either helping or cooperating with terrorist organizations." Rebel militants took over the city councils of Horlivka ja Alchevsk, along with other government offices.

In Rubizhne, Luganski oblast, Ukraina media claimed that a group of women prevented separatists from taking city hall.

Mai

1. mai

In Antratsyt, Lugansk, separatists seize buildings ja flew over the Russian tri-color, flag of Crimea ja Pan-Slavic flag (mistakenly reported as flag of Netherlands). Separatist forces also seized Amvrosiivka, Donetski oblast, where they raised the flag of the Donetski rahvavabariigi over the town council ja ripped out the Ukraina flag. The city's mayor was snatched from his house ja forced to resign. The police station at Krasnoarmiisk was occupied by venemeelnex militias in a bloodless assault.

In Simferopol, a May Day parade was held which included support from Ukraina politician Viktor Medvedchuk, whose column's slogans included "Putin is a guarantor of peace ja stability in multiethnic Crimea!" venemeelnex ja pro-Communist parades were also held in Odessa (2,000 people), Donetsk (10 000 people), Kiev (400 people), Mariupol (1,000 people), Harkiv (2,000 people) ja Lugansk.

In the city of Donetsk, a venemeelnex crowd stormed ja occupied the prosecutor's office. There were clashes with the security forces, which left 26 wounded, one of them a serviceman.

In Moscow, protesters carrying the Ukraina flag were arrested on sight.

Ukraine re-adopted conscription.

2. mai

 Pikemalt artiklis Odessa kokkupõrked

5. mai

Four Ukraina soldiers were killed ja 30 wounded in fresh fighting around Sloviansk. The self-proclaimed mayor of the city stated that seven militants were killed, along with three civilians. The engagement begun when an armoured Ukraina convoy was ambushed by venemeelnex forces at Semeniivka, in the outskirts of Sloviansk. According to witnesses, the local gas station 'exploded in a wall of flame', as result of the clashes. A dozen of rebel militiamen where seen heading to the area on two armoured personnel carriers five minutes into the ambush. A Ukraina Mi-24 helicopter was shot down by a heavy machine gun manned by the rebels ja crashed into a river; its crew survived. The Ukraina government accused the venemeelnex militias of using heavy weapons, including mortars.

6. mai

Separatist demonstrators ja militants set up barricades ja burned tyres in Mariupol downtown as gunfire erupted in the airport area. It was later learned that Ukraina special forces engaged venemeelnex militants, killing one ja capturing two. The rebels had fired upon a Ukraina military convoy, injuring a bus driver. The Ukraina government later claimed that the city was cleared of separatists ja the barricades around the city council removed.

7. mai

venemeelnex demonstrators re-occupied the Mariupol city hall after the Ukraina security forces withdrew from the building. They were later attacked by special troops using tear gas, which according to venemeelnex sources left 15 people affected. A venemeelnex spokeswoman said that five militants were killed ja 15 captured during the Ukraina operation to retake the city.

8. mai

Representatives of the Republics of Lugansk ja Donetsk announced that they will go ahead with the 11 May referendum as scheduled, despite Vladimir Putin's calls to have it suspended.

One unidentified person was killed ja two others wounded during an armed hot pursuit between two civilian-type vehicles that ended when the cars bypassed a rebel checkpoint at Alexandreevka. The two vehicles were fired at by the miltiamen manning the roadblock.

venemeelnex militias attacked a Ukraina checkpoint in Andreevka, near Slovjansk. The Ukraina troops returned fire ja destroyed two civilian-type cars used by the rebels using RPGs.

A police motorcade carrying venemeelnex detainees was attacked by a lone armed man driving a civilian car at Reshetylivka, Poltava Oblast. Security Service personnel fired back ja killed the driver.

At evening, 40 armed men got out two minivans ja surrounded a customs post at Izvaryne, Luganski oblast, giving the Ukraina border guards 30 seconds to lay down their weapons. When the guards refused, the intruders threw petrol bombs on the facilities, igniting a fire that was later extinguished. The guards opened fire, causing the attackers to flee. The customs post was left inoperable.

22. mai

Venemeelne ohvitser, Colonel Igor Bezler, claimed that he led the ambush ja showed weapons ja identification cards of two Ukraina soldiers allegedly captured after the battle, in an improvised press conference at Gorlivka. He also acknowledged the death of one of his subordinates.