Ukraine: 'We will not stop,' following deadly Friday clashes
Scott Olson/Getty Images
At least 42 people died in Friday clashes between pro-Russia militants and Ukrainian government supporters, The Associated Press reported.
Officials said the largest number — at least 36 people — were killed when a fire broke out in a government building occupied by pro-Russia protesters. The Black Sea port city of Odessa, where much of the fighting occurred, declared a three-day mourning period, but Ukraine is not backing down: "The active phase of the operation continued at dawn (today)," Arsen Avakov, the country's acting interior minister, wrote on his Facebook page. "We will not stop."
This morning, pro-Russia militants released the seven OSCE military observers, along with their five Ukrainian assistants. One of the insurgents' leaders initially told reporters that the observers were released after more than a week in captivity because of increasing insecurity in the city of Slovyansk, where they were being held. But he later backtracked on that, telling the AP, "they are not being released - they are leaving us, as we promised."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Moscow, which for weeks has threatened intervention into what it claims is a case of Russians being persecuted in Ukraine, addressed the most recent fighting in a statement this morning: "People are calling in despair, asking for help, the overwhelming majority demand Russian help," Dmitri Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, told reporters. "All these calls are reported to Vladimir Putin."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Marine Le Pen's fake jobs trial
The Explainer The far-right French leader could face a fine, jail time, and a five-year ban from public office if found guilty of embezzlement
By Abby Wilson Published
-
How to earn extra cash for Christmas
The Explainer The holiday season can be expensive but there are ways to bolster your festive finances
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
By The Week UK Published
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs say
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign port
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published