Kiev has threatened to launch a full-scale army operation against pro-Russian forces in the east of the country.
During a televised address form parliament, acting President Oleksandr Turchynov has issued an ultimatum to the unidentified pro-Russian forces that have established themselves in a number of cities in eastern Ukraine, telling them that they must lay down their arms and vacate government buildings by Monday morning, or the government will call in the army.
The pro-Russian forces, which are described as very similar to the Russian-backed forces which overran Crimea last month, have taken control of government buildings in Mariupol and Yenakiyevo, and have established themselves in Donetsk, Luhansk, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, according to the BBC.
Turchynov has vowed to prevent a repetition Russia’s underhand annexation of Crimea in the east of his country, where Russia has already amassed a large military force on the border.
In New York at 20:00 (01:00 BST), the UN Security Council will hold an urgent meeting to discuss the increasing tensions on the border between Russia and Ukraine.
