Ukraine dismisses Russian threats to intervene, continues anti-terrorist campaign

View Photo Gallery Clashes spread across eastern Ukraine:Fighting has broken out among Ukrainian security forces, local protesters and pro !ussian militants"

By William Booth and Michael Birnbaum, Updated: Friday, April 25, 9:25 AM E-mail the writers

DON !"#, U$raine % !he U$rainian &o'ernment Friday bru(hed o)) *u((ian threat( o) inter'ention in a ten(e (tando)) in ea(tern U$raine, declarin& that U$raine+( ,anti-terrori(t operation. a&ain(t pro*u((ian militiamen occupyin& &o'ernment buildin&( /ould continue0 U$rainian troop( cla(hed /ith pro-*u((ian militant( at barricade( and chec$point( !hur(day in ea(tern U$raine, /ith )i&htin& centered around the brea$a/ay city o) "lo'yan($, a (eparati(t (tron&hold0 We do not /ant any ca(ualtie(0 We /ill not (torm the city0 We reali1e that there may be a lar&e number o) in2ured people in thi( ca(e,. (aid 3a(yl #ruto', deputy chie) o) U$raine+( "ecurity "er'ice, at a ne/( brie)in& in #ie' on Friday0

4nterior Mini(ter Ar(en A'a$o' (aid Friday that U$raine+( military mo'e -- called A!O, )or Anti-!errori(t Operation % /ould continue0 !here+( been no (u(pen(ion o) the A!O in the )ace o) threat( )rom an in'a(ion by *u((ian armed )orce(,. A'a$o' (aid0 !he U$rainian interior mini(ter (aid, ,!he terrori(t( (hould be on their &uard around the cloc$0 5i'ilian( ha'e nothin& to )ear0. 6erman 5hancellor An&ela Mer$el called *u((ian 7re(ident 3ladimir 7utin on Friday to di(cu(( the ten(e (ituation in U$raine, Mer$el+( (po$e(man and the #remlin (aid0 !he *u((ian leader appeared to &i'e no &round in hi( in(i(tance that the interim &o'ernment in #ie' bac$ do/n a&ain(t pro-*u((ian (eparati(t( /ho ha'e (ei1ed (e'eral citie( in ea(tern U$raine0 7utin har(hly condemned the attempt( o) the re&ime in #ie' to u(e armed )orce( a&ain(t peace)ul ci'ilian( in the (outhea(t o) the country,. the #remlin (aid in a (tatement0 But there /ere )e/ (i&n( o) open con)lict Friday in or around the conte(ted ea(tern citie(0 4n Mariupol, a (outhea(tern U$rainian port city on the "ea o) A1o', control o) the local &o'ernment /a( bac$ in the hand( o) the (eparati(t 7eople+( *epublic o) Donet($ on Friday, a day a)ter #ie' proclaimed the 5ity 8all there liberated )rom pro-*u((ian militiamen0 At (ome point a)ter that declaration, the local mayor and police a&reed to cede the city+( admini(trati'e head9uarter( once a&ain to the (eparati(t(, /ho /ere bu(y Friday ma$in& moloto' coc$tail( in the ba(ement o) 5ity 8all0 4t /a( not immediately clear /hy the local &o'ernment ca'ed, but the de'elopment appeared to illu(trate the challen&e( that #ie' )ace( in tryin& to re&ain control in ea(tern U$raine0 4n Mo(co/, *u((ian Forei&n Mini(ter "er&ei :a'ro' /arned Friday that the We(t /ant( to ta$e control o) U$raine and i( ob(e((ed by it( &eopolitical ambition(0 Without battin& an eye, our We(tern partner( $eep demandin& day a)ter day that *u((ia (top inter)erin& in U$rainian a))air(, pull out troop( and remo'e certain a&ent( /ho ha'e reportedly been cau&ht in the (outhea(t and /ho are reportedly &uidin& the(e proce((e(,. :a'ro' (aid at a )orum o) youn& *u((ian diplomat(0 On !hur(day ni&ht, "ecretary o) "tate ;ohn F0 #erry (aid that *u((ia ,ha( re)u(ed to ta$e a (in&le (tep in the ri&ht direction0.

#erry (aid the U0"0 &o'ernment /a( preparin& another round o) economic (anction( aimed at con(trainin& *u((ian ambition( in U$raine0 4 ha'e told ;ohn #erry many time( % he rai(ed the 9ue(tion about t/o /ee$( a&o % that they (hould (ho/ *u((ian a&ent(, i) they ha'e really been cau&ht by the U$rainian (er'ice(, to people< they (hould (ho/ them on !3,. :a'ro' (aid0 8e (po$e a day a)ter *u((ia be&an military drill( on it( border /ith U$raine in re(pon(e to U$rainian military operation( that $illed ,up to )i'e. pro-*u((ian militant(, accordin& to U$rainian o))icial(0 *u((ian 7re(ident 3ladimir 7utin condemned the U$rainian action(, and hi( top deputie( (aid a U$rainian mobili1ation in the re(ti'e ea(tern part o) the country /ould elicit a *u((ian re(pon(e0 !he tit-)or-tat military mo'ement( brou&ht the t/o (ide( clo(er to a direct armed con)rontation in a (tando)) that analy(t( call one o) the mo(t dan&erou( on uropean (oil (ince the end o) the 5old War0 4) the #ie' re&ime ha( (tarted to u(e the army a&ain(t the population in(ide the country, it beyond any doubt i( a 'ery (eriou( crime,. 7utin (aid at a media )orum in "t0 7eter(bur&0 8e added that i) U$rainian authoritie( e(calated the con)rontation, there /ould be ,con(e9uence(0. A)ter a day o) increa(in&ly dire report( )rom the &round, the Obama admini(tration (truc$ bac$, at lea(t 'erbally0 ,4) *u((ia continue( in thi( direction, it /ill not 2u(t be a &ra'e mi(ta$e, it /ill be an e=pen(i'e mi(ta$e,. #erry (aid in Wa(hin&ton0 Althou&h he announced no ne/ (anction(, #erry (aid, ,!he /indo/ >)or *u((ia? to chan&e cour(e i( clo(in&0 000 We are ready to act0. !he pro-*u((ian acti'i(t( /ere $illed in )i&htin& at three chec$point( (urroundin& the city o) "lo'yan($, and one U$rainian (oldier /a( /ounded, the U$rainian 4nterior Mini(try (aid in a (tatement0 !he 'iolence bro$e out a( (ecurity )orce( tried to di(lod&e prote(ter( and pro-*u((ian militant( encamped in citie( acro(( ea(tern U$raine, /ith other )i&htin& reported at an arm( depot and a city hall0 !he *u((ian military be&an the ,tactical drill(. in re(pon(e to e'ent( acro(( the border in U$raine, *u((ian De)en(e Mini(ter "er&ei "hoi&u (aid at a meetin& in Mo(co/0 4) U$raine+( ,/ar machine. doe( not halt, "hoi&u (aid, it /ill lead to a lar&e number o) ca(ualtie(0 ,We ha'e to react to (uch a de'elopment,. he (aid0 !he *u((ian de)en(e mini(ter (aid the drill( /ould include aerial e=erci(e( near the border0 !he leadin& candidate in U$raine+( upcomin& pre(idential election, )ormer )orei&n

mini(ter 7etro 7oro(hen$o, (aid three *u((ian military helicopter( cro((ed the border and entered U$rainian air(pace0 8e (aid the incident /a( bein& in'e(ti&ated0 U$raine /ant( *u((ia to (top the con(tant threat( and blac$mail and to /ithdra/ it( troop( )rom the border,. U$raine+( actin& pre(ident, Ole$(andr !urchyno', (aid !hur(day0 A (enior American o))icial (aid the United "tate( i( a/are o) report( o) helicopter incur(ion( into U$rainian air(pace but could not con)irm them0 ,!hat (aid, /e are /atchin& *u((ian troop mo'ement( on the border /ith &reat concern,. the o))icial (aid0 ,Any )urther *u((ian military inter'ention into U$raine /ould be a &ra'e mi(ta$e0. !he U0"0 Army i( (endin& )our companie( o) @5A paratrooper( each to 7oland, :ithuania, :at'ia and (tonia thi( /ee$ to conduct trainin& e=erci(e(0 #erry held *u((ia )ully re(pon(ible )or the e(calatin& 'iolence0 ,!hi( i( a )ull-throated e))ort to acti'ely (abota&e the democratic proce(( throu&h &ro(( e=ternal intimidation,. he (aid0 U0"0 intelli&ence ha( reported that ,*u((ian intelli&ence and (pecial operation(. )orce( are ,playin& an acti'e role. in ea(tern U$raine, #erry (aid, addin& that ,nobody (hould doubt *u((ia+( hand in it,. includin& the (upply o) per(onnel, /eapon( and money and the coordination o) (eparati(t action(0 #erry, )ully (upportin& char&e( le'ied by the #ie' &o'ernment, cited intercepted communication( bet/een $no/n *u((ian a&ent( and (eparati(t( in U$raine and e=ten(i'e (ocial media photo&raph( o) *u((ian (pecial operation( )orce( on the &round0 Notin& that it ha( been a )ull /ee$ (ince *u((ia a&reed in a 6ene'a accord /ith the United "tate(, U$raine and the uropean Union to help a'oid )urther e(calation, #erry (aid the a&reement ,i( not open to interpretation0 4t i( not 'a&ue0 4t i( not (ub2ecti'e0 4t i( not optional0. While the U$rainian &o'ernment ha( $ept it( commitment( to be&in a proce(( o) con(titutional re)orm and re(pect minoritie(+ ri&ht(, ,*u((ia ha( put it( )aith in di(traction, deception and de(tabili1ation 000 >and? re)u(ed to ta$e a (in&le concrete (tep in the ri&ht direction,. he (aid0 7re(ident Obama (aid Wedne(day that a ne/ round o) (anction( a&ain(t prominent *u((ian( ha( been dra/n up, and #erry (aid pre'iou( mea(ure( ha'e dama&ed *u((ia+( )ir(t-9uarter economy, /ith &ro/th e(timate( re'i(ed do/n/ard by 2 to B percenta&e point( and CDA billion in capital )leein& the *u((ian )inancial (y(tem0 4n a ne/( con)erence in !o$yo on the )ir(t (top o) hi( A(ia trip, Obama (aid that the

United "tate( ha( ,teed up. additional (anction( a&ain(t *u((ia but that 7utin can (till chan&e cour(e and encoura&e pro-*u((ian militant( in ea(tern U$raine to di(arm0 !here+( al/ay( the po((ibility that tomorro/ or the ne=t day *u((ia ta$e( another cour(e,. Obama (aid0 ,Do 4 thin$ they+re &oin& to do thatE "o )ar the e'idence doe(n+t ma$e me hope)ul0. @(t (tep+ o) anti-terror dri'e 4n ea(tern U$raine, the )ir(t (i&n( emer&ed that the (tate /a( ree(tabli(hin& it( authority0 Out(ide the re&ional capital, Donet($, chec$point( that on Wedne(day /ere occupied by anti-#ie' militia( /ere bein& manned !hur(day a)ternoon by member( o) the U$rainian national police0 7olice o))icer(, /earin& cri(ply pre((ed uni)orm( and carryin& automatic ri)le(, (topped 'ehicle( and in(pected identi)ication card(0 !hey $noc$ed do/n tent( and tire barricade( erected by pro-*u((ian militia( on the hi&h/ay(0 !here /a( al(o at lea(t one ne/ military chec$point that /a( occupied by tan$( and member( o) a U$rainian airborne unit on a road out(ide "lo'yan($0 !he tan$ &unner, /ho identi)ied him(el) only by hi( )ir(t name, 3yache(la', (aid the unit+( mi((ion /a( to open car trun$( and loo$ )or /eapon(0 "e'eral 2ournali(t( ha'e been detained in "lo'yan($, /hich international ob(er'er( ha'e (aid i( e))ecti'ely controlled by armed pro*u((ian acti'i(t(0 American "imon O(tro'($y, a reporter )or 3ice Ne/( /ho had been held )or more than FG hour(, /a( relea(ed late !hur(day, accordin& to 3ice Ne/(0 Miro(la' *uden$o, a leader o) the Donet($ re&ion+( pro-*u((ian ,(el)-de)en(e militia,. told the Mo(co/-ba(ed 4nter)a= ne/( a&ency that hi( men /ere attac$ed by U$rainian military per(onnel at roadbloc$( near "lo'yan($+( entrance(0 *uden$o (aid that at lea(t one per(on died and one /a( in2ured0 At the moment, it i( 'ery di))icult to reach our militia member( on their cellphone(,. *uden$o told 4nter)a=0 ,A Hcombat (ituation+ ha( emer&ed in the city0. 4n #ie', the Forei&n Mini(try (aid U$rainian troop( (truc$ three chec$point(, $illin& )i'e militiamen0 Durin& or a)ter the )i&htin&, the tire( u(ed to create barricade( /ere i&nited, (endin& blac$ (mo$e into the ($y0 Iuriy :ut(en$o, an ad'i(er to U$raine+( interim pre(ident, (aid: ,!oday /a( the )ir(t (tep o) the anti-terror operation0 Finally, /e e(tabli(hed control on the main hi&h/ay bet/een #har$i' and *o(to', and then /e pu(hed the terrori(t( into "lo'yan($0.

4n Artemo'($, a to/n about 5A mile( north o) Donet($, DA unidenti)ied men carryin& automatic /eapon( and &renade( attac$ed an arm( depot, accordin& to the U$rainian De)en(e Mini(try0 !he mini(try (aid that U$rainian (ecurity )orce( repelled the attac$ and that one U$rainian (oldier /a( /ounded0 *e(ident( blamed the attac$ on anti-#ie' acti'i(t( (ee$in& acce(( to the depot0 5riminal element( blamed "erhiy !aruta, the interim &o'ernor o) the Donet($ re&ion and one o) the riche(t men in U$raine, (aid in an inter'ie/ that the militant pro-*u((ian (eparati(t( in citie( (uch a( "lo'yan($ repre(ent only a (mall percenta&e o) the local population0 !here i( a local problem, and lot( o) criminal or hal)-criminal element( are en&a&ed in lootin&, plunderin& and, un)ortunately, $illin&,. he (aid0 ,!he police ha'e not been able to /or$ e))ecti'ely a&ain(t the(e )orce(0. !aruta (aid he and hi( team ha'e been acti'ely ne&otiatin& /ith the pro-*u((ian acti'i(t( and anti-#ie' prote(ter( /ho ha'e ta$en o'er or (urrounded public buildin&( acro(( the re&ion0 7ro-*u((ian prote(ter( and ma($ed &unmen ha'e been occupyin& &o'ernment buildin&(acro(( ea(tern U$raine )or nearly t/o /ee$( and re)u(in& to reco&ni1e the )led&in& #ie' &o'ernment0 !he 'iolence threaten( the le&itimacy o) U$rainian pre(idential and mayoral election( (cheduled )or May 25, 7utin+( (po$e(man, Dmitry 7e($o', (aid !hur(day0 8i( comment( rai(ed the po((ibility that *u((ia may continue re)u(in& to reco&ni1e the U$rainian &o'ernment e'en a)ter election( are held0 *u((ia /arned Wedne(day that it /a( prepared to retaliate a&ain(t any attac$ on it( citi1en( or intere(t( in U$raine0 Birnbaum reported )rom Mo(co/0 6ri)) Witte in Mariupol, Ale= *yabchyn in Donet($, Will n&lund in Mo(co/, ;uliet ilperin in !o$yo and #aren DeIoun& in Wa(hin&ton contributed to thi( report0