Ukraine planning operational response to separatists
Iran Press TV
Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:55PM GMT
Ukraine says its interior and defense ministries are implementing an operational response to separatist sentiments in the eastern parts of the country.
The announcement, made on Saturday, follows the seizure of government buildings by pro-Russian protesters in the city of Slavyansk in southern Donetsk.
Ukraine's Acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has called the incident an example of "external aggression", noting that Kiev is taking extra security measures to deal with the crisis.
'The Ukrainian authorities consider the events of the day as a display of external aggression from Russia,' Avakov claimed.
He also added, 'Units of the interior and defense ministries are implementing an operational response plan.'
Earlier, Acting President Oleksander Turchinov convened an emergency national security meeting to discuss the growing unrest.
Turchinov called for the meeting on Saturday after pro-Russians took control of police headquarters and security service buildings in Slavyansk.
Following the secession of Crimea from Ukraine in March, the secession movement soon spread to other regions including Odessa, Luhansk, Nikolayev, Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka, which are all located in Donetsk province.
Protesters in these areas have taken control over government buildings and raised the Russian flag.
Reports say fighting has erupted in several towns in eastern Ukraine. Protesters demand a referendum on breaking with Kiev and integrating into Russia, but Ukrainian officials say their demands are unacceptable.
Pro-Russian demonstrations gained momentum after Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and formally applied to become part of the Russian Federation following a referendum on March 16, in which nearly 97 percent of the participants voted for rejoining Russia, with a turnout of more than 83 percent.
MSM/NN/AS
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