Kiev
army shells Kramatorsk, city ‘left without water’ –
self-defense coordinator
The
Ukrainian army shelled the eastern city of Kramatorsk on Sunday as
fierce clashes erupted between Kiev's military and self-defense
forces who stopped the APC convoy from entering the city, local
activists said.
RT,
18
May, 2014
A military convoy comprised of six APCs approached the city from the northwest and began shelling it, a member of the self-defense forces told RIA Novosti.
“About 10 fighters wearing black uniforms with no markings, as well as several people in camouflage, were sitting on top of each combat vehicle” as the convoy tried to enter the city, another member of the self-defense forces told Itar-Tass. He believes National Guard and Right Sector militants were among them.
Powerful explosions and intense shooting, including shots from large-caliber guns, could be heard even from the city center, according to witnesses. Residents also said that a civil defense siren was heard in the city.
Several self-defense checkpoints have been reportedly attacked by Kiev's army, and a factory in the suburbs was set on fire.
One resident was injured at a bus stop as the Kiev military shelled the city. Self-defense members helped her emerge from the debris.
“The public transport stop is 40 meters from a nine-story apartment building. If the shell would have hit it, the consequences would be much more tragic,” the self-defense member said, as quoted by Itar-Tass.
“The public transport stop is 40 meters from a nine-story apartment building. If the shell would have hit it, the consequences would be much more tragic,” the self-defense member said, as quoted by Itar-Tass.
A resident of Kramatorsk posted a video on YouTube showing that his ninth floor apartment had been shot at. The footage shows a bullet hole in his window and another one in a wall.
Water and gas lines have also been shelled, and all of the residents of Kramatorsk have been left without water, self-defense coordinator Maksim Vlasov told RIA Novosti. Some are now also without gas, local media reported, citing Karmatorsk deputy Mayor Andrey Bessonny.
A resident told RT that he believes the Kiev military used “grad multiple launch rockets or howitzers” to shell the city.
"I served in the army and during my service I have never heard such shots. They are getting louder and louder. A checkpoint is behind the house and one or two workshops of the factory are burning. Fifteen people are staying under my window, all with rifles and grenade launchers, " Kramatorsk resident Evgeny added.
A resident told RT that he believes the Kiev military used “grad multiple launch rockets or howitzers” to shell the city.
"I served in the army and during my service I have never heard such shots. They are getting louder and louder. A checkpoint is behind the house and one or two workshops of the factory are burning. Fifteen people are staying under my window, all with rifles and grenade launchers, " Kramatorsk resident Evgeny added.
Meanwhile, loud blasts and repeated heavy gunfire have been heard in the eastern city of Slavyansk, not far from Kramatorsk, according to freelance journalist Graham Phillips, reporting for RT.
The fighting comes after the Thursday ultimatum made by Donetsk self-defense forces, warning Kiev that if Kiev's troops did not withdraw from checkpoints in the Donetsk region within 24 hours, they would be taken by force.
Kiev
Nazi authorities are only obstacle to peace in Ukraine –
ex-presidential candidate
The
removal of Kiev’s coup-imposed authorities from power is the only
way to restore peace and stability in Ukraine, opposition leader and
ex-presidential candidate Oleg Tsarev told RT.
RT,
18
May, 2014
Tsarev has blamed Igor Kolomoisky, the Kiev-appointed Dnepropetrovsk region governor and oligarch, for making “quite a large” contribution to the current violence in Ukraine.
He said it is Kolomoisky who is responsible for recruiting nationalists into the National Guard and special police units, which are now waging war in the country's southeast.
Tsarev, who spoke to RT during his visit to Moscow, said he has information that “the National Guard fighters, who were dressed in civilian clothes, participated in the events in Odessa” – where at least 48 anti-Kiev protestors died on May 2 after radicals set fire to the Trade Unions House.
He said it is Kolomoisky who is responsible for recruiting nationalists into the National Guard and special police units, which are now waging war in the country's southeast.
Tsarev, who spoke to RT during his visit to Moscow, said he has information that “the National Guard fighters, who were dressed in civilian clothes, participated in the events in Odessa” – where at least 48 anti-Kiev protestors died on May 2 after radicals set fire to the Trade Unions House.
The MP also confirmed the authenticity of the leaked phone call from May 9 , in which Kolomoisky said that he offered US$1 million for Tsarev’s head.
“As I understand he didn’t want me to come to Lugansk and Donetsk to take part in organizing the referendum,” he said.
Referendums in Lugansk and Donetsk regions took place on May 11, two days after the phone call leak, with over 90 percent of voters supporting independence from Kiev.
Tsarev, who was a self-nominee for the presidential election, withdrew his candidacy from the race, as he believes “the vote can’t be held when the army is on a reprisal raid against its own people...and dozens die every day.”
With no candidate boasting support in both east and west Ukraine, any president elected on May 25 will be “a half-president,” he stressed.
“I called upon the current Ukrainian authorities to solve the country’s problems first; carry out a constitutional reform, disarm the militants, release over 400 of our activists from prison on amnesty, and organize an election after that,” the MP said.
But the coup-imposed authorities in Kiev are pushing to hold the election “at any cost,” because they realize that “their rating is falling” and now is their only chance to succeed, he explained.
Tsarev assured that Donetsk and Lugansk regions won’t be taking part in the Ukrainian election, adding that he has urged his supporters around the country to follow their example.
The ex-presidential candidate has called Ukraine’s acting prime minister, Arseny Yatsenyuk, “a great imitator” for faking dialogue between the east and the west of the country.
“They gather their own representatives, who live in the southeast, and hold roundtables with them,”Tsarev said, adding that he and other actual leaders of protesters from the east aren't invited to take part in the discussions.
“They’re basically talking to themselves...There’s no real dialogue,” he added.
The opposition leader reminded that there are howitzers ready to shell the protester stronghold city of Slavyansk in the Donetsk region, with Kiev’s forces neglecting to provide a humanitarian corridor for the civilians to evacuate in case of attack.
It’s “not realistic” to talk to the “murderers” under such conditions, because dialogue between Kiev and protestors in the southeast is only possible after the ceasefire is agreed, he explained.
However, Tsarev stressed that the only obstacle to peace and stability in Ukraine are the “current Nazi authorities of Ukraine,” which must be removed from power.
He added that during his stay in Moscow, he has seen that the Russian people have “largely accepted” the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk regions from Ukraine.
Tsarev said the issue is not as simple when it comes to the position of Russian authorities, because they are responsible for Russia's fate – for economic sanctions which may be introduced against Russia.
But the opposition leader stressed that protestors in eastern Ukraine aren’t looking for independence from their compatriots in the country's west.
“They just don’t want to be in the same country with the current authority,” he said.
The Kiev regime chose to send the army against citizens in the southeast because its rule is “based on fear,” he added.
“But it’s impossible to defeat the people by military means,” Tsarev stressed. “The army doesn’t want to fight against the people. In order to make the military obey orders, they deployed Nazis there, who shoot at self-defense forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic, and then fire at the soldiers, who refuse to fight.”
“The number of casualties in the ranks of the Ukrainian military has reached 1,000 people. And sooner or later...I think sooner rather than later, the Kiev authorities will be held responsible for the war crimes against their own people,” he added.
The Kiev regime chose to send the army against citizens in the southeast because its rule is “based on fear,” he added.
“But it’s impossible to defeat the people by military means,” Tsarev stressed. “The army doesn’t want to fight against the people. In order to make the military obey orders, they deployed Nazis there, who shoot at self-defense forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic, and then fire at the soldiers, who refuse to fight.”
“The number of casualties in the ranks of the Ukrainian military has reached 1,000 people. And sooner or later...I think sooner rather than later, the Kiev authorities will be held responsible for the war crimes against their own people,” he added.
Oleg Tsarev was previously a main figure in the Party of Regions – the party of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, who was ousted by a nationalist-powered coup back in February.
A few weeks later, in April, he was registered as a presidential candidate. Several days later, he wasbrutally beaten by radicals from the Right Sector movement.
Tsarev is backing the idea of creating an independent Federal Republic of Novorossia, following the lead of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which revolted against the new Kiev authorities
Gas
Guzzler: US, Kiev after huge natural resources in E.Ukraine
Self-defense
forces are on full alert in East Ukraine's newly proclaimed Donetsk
People's Republic. The region cut ties with Kiev after a popular vote
last Sunday - and activists are expecting a new wave of government
crackdown. Tensions are highest in the city of Slavyansk that's been
besieged by troops for weeks. Reinstating control over the restive
region isn't the only agenda driving Kiev's ongoing offensive -
Gayane Chichakyan reports.
Read
More: http://on.rt.com/x2g1yl
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