Ukraine The escalating conflict in Ukraine "essentially puts the nation on the brink of civil war," Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.
His assessment came during a telephone conversation with his
German counterpart, according to the Kremlin, the same day Ukraine's military
launched its first, formal military action against pro-Russia
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The military action came a day after a Ukrainian ultimatum expired
for protesters to lay down their arms, a move that appeared to signal an
escalation in the crisis that has sparked a diplomatic row between Ukraine, its
Western allies and Russia.
With pro-Russian militants seizing government and police buildings
in as many as 10 towns and cities in eastern Ukraine, acting President
Oleksandr Turchynov told Parliament "an anti-terrorist operation" was
under way in the region.
The aim of the military operation is to "stop attempts to
tear Ukraine to pieces," he told lawmakers.
Witnesses reported hearing gunfire and aircraft that appeared to
be coming from the airfield in Kramatorsk, which Turchynov's office said was
under the control of Ukrainain special forces late Tuesday.
There were conflicting reports about casualties, with Russian
state-run media citing varying casualty claims supplied by militants. According
to the reports, there were either two injured or four killed.
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