Deadly clashes at Ukraine port base as leaders meet
Three people were killed in a raid on a base in eastern Ukraine overnight, the country's interior minister says, as the US, Russia, the EU and Ukraine begin crisis talks in Geneva.
The three pro-Russian separatists were killed in a clash with Ukrainian forces in Mariupol, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said on Facebook.
The Geneva meeting is the first such gathering since the crisis escalated.
The West says Russia is aiding the pro-Russian activists occupying buildings.
Analysis
There's going to be a lot of talk in Geneva and beyond using terms like "decentralisation", "federalism" and "regionalisation". Even the interim Ukrainian Government is willing to discuss greater de-centralisation. For if Ukraine is to have any reasonable future then constitutional change of some kind is widely seen as necessary. The balance of power between Kiev and the regions has to change, not least to enable the Russian-speaking areas to have more of a say over their own affairs. Substantial powers might have to be transferred. The trouble is that all of these terms mean very different things to different people. Russia for example sees "federalism" as a way of weakening the hold of Kiev and seems to want regions to be able to enter into relationships with a foreign country - Russia - irrespective of the views of the central government in the Ukrainian capital.
In a live TV phone-in on Thursday, Russia's President Vladimir Putin warned Kiev of "the abyss they're heading into" in eastern Ukraine and urged dialogue.
He said the Kiev government, which had "seized power", had only spoken to its own appointees in the region, but "not to the people whom locals trust".
He dismissed as "rubbish" allegations that Russian special forces were operating in eastern Ukraine.
When asked if Russia was planning to send troops to the troubled region he said parliament had given him the right to do so, but hoped he would not have to use that right.
Admission on Crimea
Tensions escalated last month when Russia annexed Crimea, causing international outrage. Unrest later spread to Donetsk region, another mainly Russian-speaking area. It is Europe's worst crisis since the Cold War.
Mr Putin took questions from residents of Sevastopol, base of the Russian fleet in Crimea, the first place to feature in his live broadcast. It is the first time Crimea has been included in Mr Putin's annual phone-in.
He insisted that Russian speakers in Ukraine "must be equal citizens... it's a question of guarantees for those people".
He also admitted for the first time that Russian troops had been "behind the backs of self-defence forces in Crimea" to ensure that last month's referendum there could be held and that weapons stores were not seized by Ukrainian forces.
Russia's annexation of Crimea has fuelled concern that other parts of eastern Ukraine could also break away from Kiev's control and join Russia.
A man wounded in the clash in Mariupol is given first aid
Fighting in Mariupol
Overnight about 300 pro-Russian separatists attacked a military unit in Mariupol near the Azov Sea, throwing petrol bombs. Troops opened fire, killing three, Mr Avakov said.
The operation is continuing - Ukraine has sent in reinforcements including helicopters. There was no independent confirmation of his statement.
According to Mr Avakov, 13 of the attackers were wounded and so far 63 have been detained. He said none of the interior ministry troops had been killed.
It is the heaviest casualty toll in any single incident so far in eastern Ukraine.
Mariupol is in the far south of Donetsk region, where separatists have seized dozens of official buildings.
Ukrainian SBU special forces have gone to the aid of the interior ministry troops in Mariupol and armoured vehicles have gone into the city from places nearby, Ukraine's Unian news agency reports.
Retreating separatists reportedly wounded two passers-by, set a minibus ablaze and also set fire to a building next to the military garrison.
"Through joint efforts by the armed police and national guard the attacking gang was dispersed after a short battle, most of them were cornered and disarmed," Mr Avakov said.
"Because it was such an aggressive attack on a military unit - an interior ministry group - we decided to reinforce them with Omega special forces. Helicopters have been deployed."
According to a report on Russia's state-run Vesti TV news, unarmed local protesters tried to talk to the Ukrainian troops but were met with gunfire. Quoting unnamed Mariupol residents, the TV channel said shots were also fired at first-aid paramedics.
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The three pro-Russian separatists were killed in a clash with Ukrainian forces in Mariupol, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said on Facebook.
The Geneva meeting is the first such gathering since the crisis escalated.
The West says Russia is aiding the pro-Russian activists occupying buildings.
Analysis
There's going to be a lot of talk in Geneva and beyond using terms like "decentralisation", "federalism" and "regionalisation". Even the interim Ukrainian Government is willing to discuss greater de-centralisation. For if Ukraine is to have any reasonable future then constitutional change of some kind is widely seen as necessary. The balance of power between Kiev and the regions has to change, not least to enable the Russian-speaking areas to have more of a say over their own affairs. Substantial powers might have to be transferred. The trouble is that all of these terms mean very different things to different people. Russia for example sees "federalism" as a way of weakening the hold of Kiev and seems to want regions to be able to enter into relationships with a foreign country - Russia - irrespective of the views of the central government in the Ukrainian capital.
In a live TV phone-in on Thursday, Russia's President Vladimir Putin warned Kiev of "the abyss they're heading into" in eastern Ukraine and urged dialogue.
He said the Kiev government, which had "seized power", had only spoken to its own appointees in the region, but "not to the people whom locals trust".
He dismissed as "rubbish" allegations that Russian special forces were operating in eastern Ukraine.
When asked if Russia was planning to send troops to the troubled region he said parliament had given him the right to do so, but hoped he would not have to use that right.
Admission on Crimea
Tensions escalated last month when Russia annexed Crimea, causing international outrage. Unrest later spread to Donetsk region, another mainly Russian-speaking area. It is Europe's worst crisis since the Cold War.
Mr Putin took questions from residents of Sevastopol, base of the Russian fleet in Crimea, the first place to feature in his live broadcast. It is the first time Crimea has been included in Mr Putin's annual phone-in.
He insisted that Russian speakers in Ukraine "must be equal citizens... it's a question of guarantees for those people".
He also admitted for the first time that Russian troops had been "behind the backs of self-defence forces in Crimea" to ensure that last month's referendum there could be held and that weapons stores were not seized by Ukrainian forces.
Russia's annexation of Crimea has fuelled concern that other parts of eastern Ukraine could also break away from Kiev's control and join Russia.
A man wounded in the clash in Mariupol is given first aid
Fighting in Mariupol
Overnight about 300 pro-Russian separatists attacked a military unit in Mariupol near the Azov Sea, throwing petrol bombs. Troops opened fire, killing three, Mr Avakov said.
The operation is continuing - Ukraine has sent in reinforcements including helicopters. There was no independent confirmation of his statement.
According to Mr Avakov, 13 of the attackers were wounded and so far 63 have been detained. He said none of the interior ministry troops had been killed.
It is the heaviest casualty toll in any single incident so far in eastern Ukraine.
Mariupol is in the far south of Donetsk region, where separatists have seized dozens of official buildings.
Ukrainian SBU special forces have gone to the aid of the interior ministry troops in Mariupol and armoured vehicles have gone into the city from places nearby, Ukraine's Unian news agency reports.
Retreating separatists reportedly wounded two passers-by, set a minibus ablaze and also set fire to a building next to the military garrison.
"Through joint efforts by the armed police and national guard the attacking gang was dispersed after a short battle, most of them were cornered and disarmed," Mr Avakov said.
"Because it was such an aggressive attack on a military unit - an interior ministry group - we decided to reinforce them with Omega special forces. Helicopters have been deployed."
According to a report on Russia's state-run Vesti TV news, unarmed local protesters tried to talk to the Ukrainian troops but were met with gunfire. Quoting unnamed Mariupol residents, the TV channel said shots were also fired at first-aid paramedics.
Follow @LaNUBlog & @Hon_KingSIMEO on Twitter for Updates
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