Military operation against separatists in East Ukraine
(Vatican Radio) Ukrainian acting Olexander Turchynov launched a military action against
pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, amid international fears of
a wider confrontation between Ukraine and neighboring Russia.
Turchynov told
Parliament that, in his words, "an anti-terrorist operation" had begun, but, cautioned
that the activities were carefully-planned stages, step by step, in eastern Ukraine.
"This morning an anti-terrorist operation has started in the east of the Donetsk
region,” he said, speaking slowly. “The aim of this action – I emphasise it once again
– is to protect Ukraine’s citizens, to stop terror, to stop criminality, and stop
attempts to tear Ukraine apart.”
Witnesses saw Ukrainian armoured vehicles
as separatist pro-Russian militants braced for an attack.
Additionally, Ukraine’s
security service, SBU, said it had opened a criminal case against officials at an
unnamed Russian bank for, quote, “providing financing to terrorists”.
OBAMA
CONCERNED
U.S. President Barack Obama urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir
Putin to use his influence to make separatists in Donetsk and other parts of eastern
Ukraine stand down.
And, British Foreign Minister William Hague accused Russia
of stirring unrest in eastern Ukraine.
"What is happen over the last few
days, in which we believe Russia is absolutely complicit, makes an already dangerous
situation even more dangerous," he said.
Yet, Russia has denied Western
charges that it is seeks to capture more territory in Ukraine after it already annexed
the Crimean Peninsula.
KREMLIN DENIAL
The Kremlin said assertions
that Russian forces are present in Eastern Ukraine are “absurd”.
Tensions
are also rising between Ukrainians with different views on the future of their country,
ahead of next month's presidential elections.
Early Tuesday a Ukrainian presidential
candidate, known for his pro-Russia opinions, was beaten by a crowd who condemned
a television interview in which he appeared to back Russian intervention.
Standing
bare to the waist and with a black eye and scratches to his face, the 44-year-old
Oleg Tsarev denied wrongdoing saying he was against Russian forces being sent into
Ukraine.