Rocket fire hit a convoy of buses carrying refugees from the east Ukrainian city of Luhansk on Monday killing an unknown number of people, Ukraine’s military and rebels said, blaming each other for the strike.
Russia declared Ukraine on the brink of civil war on Tuesday as Kiev said an “anti-terrorist operation” against pro-Moscow separatists was underway, though the crackdown appeared to get off to a slow start, if at all.
Anti-government protesters toppled the state of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin in central Kiev yesterday amid huge protests gripping Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich’s party is on course to secure a parliamentary majority after an election, but will face an opposition boosted by resurgent nationalists and a liberal party led by boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko.