Russia issues threat after deadly clashes

"Ready to intervene in Ukraine to protect compatriots"

March 14, 2014 10:10 pm | Updated December 04, 2021 11:23 pm IST - MOSCOW:

Pro Ukraine protestors, some of them injured, are shielded by police at right during clashes with pro Russia protestors following a rally in Donetsk, Ukraine, Thursday, March 13, 2014. Bloody clashes erupted between pro Russia and pro Ukraine protestors in the eastern city of Donetsk on Thursday evening, leaving dozens injured as police struggled to prevent the violence. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Pro Ukraine protestors, some of them injured, are shielded by police at right during clashes with pro Russia protestors following a rally in Donetsk, Ukraine, Thursday, March 13, 2014. Bloody clashes erupted between pro Russia and pro Ukraine protestors in the eastern city of Donetsk on Thursday evening, leaving dozens injured as police struggled to prevent the violence. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Russia warned on Friday it was still ready to intervene in Ukraine to protect its “compatriots and citizens” against attacks by “far right radicals.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued the warning in a statement on deadly clashes in Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine that left one man dead and nearly 30 wounded.

A 22-year-old activist of the nationalist Svoboda Party was stabbed to death during clashes between pro-Russian demonstrators and supporters of the new government in Kiev. Twenty-nine people were wounded, including one in serious condition, authorities said.

The clashes broke out when Euromaidan activists from Kiev attempted to rally “in favour of Ukraine’s unity” in the industrial city of Donetsk on Thursday night even as pro-Russian demonstrators were protesting against the arrest of their leader accused of fomenting separatism.

The Donetsk clashes marked an ominous shift from last month’s clashes between anti-government protesters and police to confrontation between pro-Russian protesters and Ukrainian nationalists.

Nearly 90 people died in violent protests in Kiev’s Maidan Square last month, which led to the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych.

Moscow said that the violence in the Russian-speaking city showed the Ukrainian authorities “do not control the situation in the country.”

“Russia is aware of its responsibility for the lives of compatriots and fellow citizens in Ukraine and reserves the right to take people under its protection,” the Russian statement said.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin had cited the need to protect “the lives of Russian citizens and compatriots” when he asked for and obtained a parliamentary mandate last month to send armed forces to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russia and NATO continue to flex military muscles in Europe.

Around 16,000 soldiers from 16 NATO countries began drills in Norway, 400 km from the Russian border, on Wednesday to test their air, land and maritime mettle in extreme weather and cold conditions.

A U.S. missile cruiser has been holding exercises in the Black Sea with Bulgarian and Romanian vessels and a U.S. AWACS early warning aircraft began patrolling Ukraine’s borders on Thursday.

Russia on Wednesday announced land forces manoeuvres in its southern military district near Ukraine.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.