Ukraine Hostages Free in East as Kerry Blames Russian Agents
Pro-Russian activists released most of their hostages in Ukraine’s eastern city of Luhansk today after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russia of using “special forces and agents” to fuel unrest.
Ukrainian security forces continued an “anti-terrorist” operation in the eastern cities of Luhansk, Donetsk and Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said today. Pro-Russian protesters are still occupying buildings in the latter two and want a referendum on joining Russia and a boycott of Ukraine’s May 25 presidential election.
“I think the way to solve this crisis will be found within 48 hours,” Avakov said in a statement on his ministry’s website. “The anti-terrorist alert in all three regions has not been canceled and at any given moment we will be able to carry out planned actions.”
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