Dmitry Victorovich Podushkin waved a piece of paper: “This is what the OSCE [the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe] gave me; this is supposed to stop the bandits, terrorists, from doing their criminal acts, blocking roads, harassing. You can see it has no effect at all.”
That, indeed, seemed to be the case. Two men stood three feet away, haranguing him. “You are a thief. You stole this place with your corrupt friends. Now you are helping the invaders”. Behind the object of their scorn, the director of Kramatorsk airport, stood half a dozen Ukrainian soldiers, their faces covered by scarves, nervously fingering their assault rifles.
“They are my protection. I am not depending on the OSCE for anything. What I worry about is what happens if these soldiers leave. I have to stay here; my family stays here.” Mr Podushkin spread his hands. “They can have all kinds of international organisations saying all kinds of things, but what matters is that nothing is changing here. It’s a bad situation.”
The standoff at the Kramatorsk airport was replicated across the east of the country a day after an agreement was struck between world powers in Geneva that was supposed to defuse the tension.
Ukraine 'Azov' batallion soldiers capture pro-Russian activists after taking control over city of Mariupol in Donetsk
EPA
Pro-Ukrainian supporters stand in front of the Russian embassy during a protest in Kiev
EPA
Activists of Maidan self-defense and Right Sector ultra-nationalist organization attend a commemoration ceremony devoted for Ukrainian soldiers killed when a military cargo plane was shot down
EPA
An armed Ukrainian soldier looks around while guarding at a checkpoint not far of Slavyansk
An Orthodox priest holds a service during a funeral ceremony in front of the local administration building in Kramatorsk for Viktor Gagulin, a Pro-Russian supporter, who was killed during an anti terrorist operation, Kramatorsk
Awaiting of pro-Russian separatists is ongoing at the government building seized by Russian supporters in Donetsk
A woman bearing flowers during the rally to mourn for victims of clashes in Odessa, outside Moscow's Kremlin
AP
Pro-Russian activists mourn during the funeral of Vyacheslav Markin, the deputy of the city regional council and leader of the pro-Russian opposition, who perished during a clash between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian activists
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Pro-Russian militants escort a blindfolded man outside the regional state building they seized
AFP
Pro-Russian Cossacks eat a dinner outside the regional administration building in Donetsk
AP
Ukrainian soldiers stand guard at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk
At least three people were killed and several were injured in clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in the eastern city of Slavyansk
A Ukrainian military helicopter lands near a Ukrainian checkpoint near the town of Slavyansk
A Ukrainian military helicopter lands at a checkpoint which troops seized in the early morning in the village of Andreevka, 7 kms from the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk
A Ukrainian soldier looks on at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk
Soldiers guard a checkpoint 25 kilometers from the city of Slavyansk. Militants in Slavyansk are keeping dozens of hostages, including seven European military observers, who were detained in the city while on a verification mission under the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
A masked Ukrainian soldier takes position at a checkpoint which troops seized in the early morning in the village of Andreevka, 7 kms from the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk. Ukraine's military lost two helicopters and two servicemen in a deadly offensive launched just before dawn against pro-Russian rebels holding the flashpoint town of Slavyansk
Pro-Russian protesters try to destroy a Ukraine national flag outside the regional prosecutor's office in Donetsk
Pro-Russian separatists seize the Prosecution Office in Donetsk
Ukrainian soldiers stand near a tank at a checkpoint near the south eastern Ukrainain city of Slavyansk
Ukrainian soldiers guard a roadblock along the highway near Slavyansk
Armed pro-Russian militia attack the regional police building of Lugansk. Fresh violence erupted in eastern Ukraine after Moscow hit back at "Iron Curtain"-style Western sanctions
AFP
A resident walks through a barricaded area around the security services building. The pro-Russian activists have taken control of the state administration building and the police station
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A pro-Russian activist stands guard outside the security services building. The area around the building has become a barricaded camp occupied by the pro-Russians
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An armed pro-Russian activist stands guard at a checkpoint. Fresh violence has erupted in eastern Ukraine as thousands of pro-Russian protesters stormed key buildings
AFP
Members of the protest group 'Self Defense of Maidan' stand on a barricade as they prepare to stop ultra-nationalist activists from marching through Independence Square in Kiev
EPA
Pro-Ukrainian activists draw a giant map of Ukraine in front of the Parliament building, marking territories which could be lost as a result of the armed separatists' activity
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A pro-Russian activist gets medical attention after a clash with pro-government activists during a rally and march Donetsk. Several people were injured when the pro-Russian activists attacked a pro-government march
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Pro-Russian activists clash with pro-government supporters during a rally and march in Donetsk. Several people were injured when the pro-Russian activists attacked a pro-government march
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A pro-Russian protester walks in front of riot police during a pro-Ukraine rally in the eastern city of Donetsk. Several people were wounded when what appeared to be stun grenades exploded during a rally in support of Ukrainian unity in the eastern, separatist-held city
Reuters
Pro-Ukrainian supporters attending a rally in Donetsk. Around 1,000 people took part in a march for supporting of a Single Ukraine and were attacked by pro-Russian protesters
EPA
A pro-Russian armed man poses for a photograph with a child as he stands guard outside a regional administration building seized in the night by pro-Russian separatists
AFP/Getty
A pro-Russian armed man holds his weapon in front of the seized town administration building in Kostyantynivka Armed pro-Russian separatists who took control of the police headquarters in the east Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka have also seized the town administration building
A pro-Russia armed man aims his rifle in front of the seized city council building in Kostyantynivka
Pro-Russian Ukrainian presidential candidate Oleg Tsarev (2-L) of the 'Party of Regions' party is accompanied by security personnel as he arrives to speak to journalists during a press briefing in Slaviansk
A man reacts near a coffin containing the body of man killed in a gunfight, during a funeral ceremony in Slaviansk
Foreign military observers are escorted by pro-Russian militants to attend a press conference in city hall, of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine
AP
An armed pro-Russian protestor gestures as he stands guard on a checkpoint near Krasnyi Liman, in the Donetsk area
A Ukrainian soldier smokes his cigarette in front of an armoured personnel carrier at a checkpoint in the village of Malinivka, east of Slaviansk
Pro-Russian activists walk past a anti-US and EU banner near the occupied Security Service building in Lugansk
A Ukrainian security force officer is deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slaviansk
Ukrainian security force officers are deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slaviansk
A pro-Russian masked gunman seen during his duty on a street in the center of Slovyansk
A pro-Russian masked gunman patrols a street in the center of Slovyansk
Pro-Russian protesters attend their rally near of a barricade in front of the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk
An woman holds a Russian flag as she sits next to an elderly women inside a compound created by barricades which surround the Donetsk Regional Administration Building in Donetsk
Pro Russia militia carry a casket bearing Pavel Pavelko (42) one of three pro Russia militiamen killed in a shooting by unknown gunmen at a checkpoint, during his funeral procession in Alexandrovska village near Slovyansk
Supporters of the Communist Party of Ukraine meet near the monument of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin in Lugansk
A masked man in military fatigues brings a blindfolded Irma Krat, arrested and held by pro-Russian protestors before her meeting with journalists near of occupied police station in Slaviansk
Pro-Russian activists are demanding broader autonomy from Kiev and closer ties to Russia and continue to occupy government, police and other administrative buildings in eastern Ukrainian cities, in defiance of an ultimatum by the Ukrainian government to lay down their weapons
Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine had agreed on steps to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine during talks in Geneva, Switzerland
Valeriy Bolotov (R) new people's governor of Luhansk, speaks to the media after he was pronounced the "people's governor" inside the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk
An orthodox priest sprinkles a holy water over a group of people during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk
Bodies of men killed in a gunfight are seen in coffins during a funeral ceremony in Slaviansk
An activist shows ammunition near burned out vehicles in front of a pro-Russian blockade near Slaviansk
A masked man guards the entrance of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists during a rally in Lugansk
Soviet army veteran Yuri stands outside a regional government building in Donetsk
Defiant Pro-Russian supporters react during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk
A tearful pro-Russian supportes during the singing of the Russian national hymn during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk
A Soviet flag is seen on a barricade outside a regional government building in Donetsk
Pro-Russian armed men walk past activists hanging up a "Donetsk Republic" flag outside the mayor's office in Slaviansk
A man in military fatigues hugs a woman and a child during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk
Armed Pro-Russian man poses for a photo with local children next to barricades in front of city hall in Slovyansk
AFP
The seperatist leader of the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, holds up the pictures of two pro-Russia militants killed the day before in a gunbattle with unidentified attackers, as he holds a press conference in Slavyansk
AFP
Ukrainian Christian worshipers carry crosses as they march around the regional government building in Donetsk
Reuters
People rest under a tent next to barricades at the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk
Reuters
A masked man holds a gun as as other armed people stand near tanks in Slaviansk
An Orthodox icon is displayed on barricades in front of a city parliament in Slovyansk
Men wearing military fatigues ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk
Armed men wearing military fatigues gather by Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) as they stand guard outside the regional state building seized by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk
Masked pro-Russian gunmen attack a photojournalist near combat vehicles flying a Russian flag, in downtown of Slovyansk
Men wearing military fatigues sit by a Russian flag and a white flag reading "People's volunteer corps of Donetsk" as they ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk
Ukrainian soldiers clash with pro-Russia protesters in a field near Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine
Ukrainian General Genady Krutov (C) talks to journalists in front of an Ukrainian airbase in Kramatorsk
A woman wearing a national flower crown looks back as she attends a pro-Ukrainian rally in Luhansk
Ukrainian soldiers stand guard near a military helicopter, near the Izyum city in Kharkiv area
Pro-Russia activists throw stones as they storm the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk
Pro-Russian men storm a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka
Masked pro-Russian men attack British photojournalist Frederick Paxton during the mass storming of a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka
Ukrainian police try to stop pro-Russia activists from storming the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk
A pro-Russian fighter guards a barricade bearing the Russian flag on the road leading to the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk
AFP/Getty
Armed pro-Russia protesters prepare for the battle with Ukrainian police special team on the outskirts the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk
Pro-Russian activists escort a man (unseen) who they say is a provocateur outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk
Pro-Russia supporters surround a man who they say is a provocateur (C) outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk
Armed pro-Russian supporters carry an Eastern Orthodox icon of Mary Magdalene outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk
Pro-Russian activists occupy the police station carrying riot shields as people watch on, in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk
The interior minister overnight reported an attack on a police in the city of Kramatorsk, close to the city of Slovyansk
A pro-Russian gunman stands guard at a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk
A pro-Russian gunman carries a mattress in a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk
A pro-Russian supporter flashes the 'V'-sign during a rally in front of the security service building occupied by Pro-Russian activists in Lugansk
Pro-Russian supporters clash with supporters of Single Ukraine in downtown Kharkiv
An effigy depicting Ukrainian politician and presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko is hanged on a advertisement board in front of the offices of the SBU state security service in Luhansk
Pro-Russian protesters set a barbed wire on a barricade outside the SBU state security service in Luhansk
A masked pro-Russian activist stands in front of barricades at the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk
Pro-Russian separatists reinforced barricades around the state security building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk and called on President Vladimir Putin for help after the government warned it could use force to restore order
A Pro-Russian activist wears a hand-made mask behind a barricade in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk
Pro-Russian protesters hold placards reading 'Freedom for detained heroes!' during a rally near the district court in Kharkiv
Policemen leave their position from the regional administration building in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv
Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally near the district court in Kharkiv. Meanwhile, Russia rejected accusations that it was massing troops for an invasion of Ukraine and accused the West of making 'baseless' claims and waging an anti-Russian campaign
A view of the interior of the Kharkiv regional state administration chancery after being destroyed by pro-Russian protesters. Ukrainian policemen were injured as a result of an operation to free the administration building from pro-Russian separatists. Ukraine's acting president said on April 8 he would treat Russian separatists who have seized buildings in the east of the country as "terrorists" who will be prosecuted with the full force of the law
Pro-Russian protesters throw stones at an Interior Ministry bus near the regional administration building in Kharkiv. Ukrainian police cleared pro-Moscow protesters from a regional administration building in a lightning night-time operation, but others held out in two more eastern cities in what Kiev says is a Russian-led plan to dismember the country. Shots were fired, a grenade thrown and 70 people detained as officers ended the occupation in the city of Kharkiv during an 18 minute "anti-terrorism" action
Armed men in masks, representing Ukrainian special forces, stand guard outside the regional administration building in Kharkiv
Pro-Russian protesters burn tires near of a regional administration building after police cleared it in Kharkiv. Protesters are demanding a referendum on the status of the Kharkiv region, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea
Pro-Russian activists hold red flags with the communist hammer and sickle and the soviet "USSR" initals during a rally at the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv
Pro-Russian protesters (L) clash with activists (R) supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine as Interior Ministry members (C) attempt to break them apart during rallies in the eastern city of Kharkiv
Pro-Russian protesters and police officers surround a group of around fifteen ultra-nationalist Right Sector group members (C) during a rally in Kharkiv. Several hundred pro-Russian protesters surrounded the group of ultra-nationalists and forced them to march down a steep hill on their knees in what appeared to be a humiliation ritual that drew no police response during the rally in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv
A pro-Russian protester holds a placard bearing a crossed out "Nato" during a rally in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk
Pro-Russian protesters wave Russian flags during their rally in downtown Donetsk
Pro-Russian activists guard a barricade set at the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk
Ukraine's embattled prime minister accused Russia of trying to "dismember" his country by plotting seizures of government buildings in eastern regions that are seeking to break away from Kiev
Pro-Russian activists outside the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk
Protesters are calling for former President Yanukovych to return to Ukraine and to hold a referendum on the status of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea
Pro-Russian protesters stand next to a barricade in front of the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk. According to reports, pro-Russian demonstrators stormed the administration building in Donetsk
Protesters set up a barricade inside an occupied regional administration building in Donetsk
A pro-Russia protester sets on fire an effigy depicting Stepan Bandera, one of the founders of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, during a rally in Donetsk
Pro-Russian masked activist waves a Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, where a large group of people surged into the provincial government building and smashed windows. A gathering of several hundred, many of them waving Russian flags, then listened to speeches delivered from a balcony emblazoned with a banner reading a "Donetsk Republic"
Pro-Russian activists hold a huge Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine
AP
Pro-Russian activists hold a rally in front of Ukraine's regional security service of Ukraine in Lugansk
Getty Images
Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building
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Pro-Russian activists evacuate a wounded following clashes with anti-riot forces after storming the Regional Security Service of Ukraine
Getty Images
Pro-Russian protesters clash with police as they try to occupy a regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine
EPA
Around 100 pro-Russian protesters stormed the regional government building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk
Reuters
People clash with police at the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine
AP
Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally in Odessa, Ukraine
EPA
A pro-Russian protester waves a Russian flag behind policemen near the regional government building in Donetsk
Reuters
Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk
Getty Images
On this occasion it was the troops of the Kiev government which found themselves surrounded. In 13 other towns and cities it is the separatists who are behind the barricades, occupying an array of state institutions.
Nothing will change, if Denis Pushilin, the leader of the separatist “Peoples Republic of Donetsk”, has his way. He dismissed the deal brokered in Switzerland yesterday between Russia, the US, the EU and Ukraine. “Sergei Lavrov [the Russian Foreign Minister] did not sign anything for us, he signed on behalf of the Russian Federation. Here, we will persevere until the end,” Mr Pushilin said. Under the Geneva accord, the armed groups occupying the buildings must disarm and depart; there will be a general amnesty; and a national dialogue will take place on a new constitution, with the offer of devolution of powers to the regions.
Mr Pushilin was speaking at his 11th floor office in the administrative building in Donetsk which had been taken over by the separatists and is now guarded by masked men with Kalashnikovs, cement bags, razor wire and rubble.
The “chairman of the presidium” made a counter-offer: “As far as the vacating of buildings and areas is concerned, surely everyone must leave them, including Arseny Yatsenuik [the acting Prime Minister in Kiev ] and Oleksander Turchinov [the acting President]. They also took over buildings illegally. We are ready to do it after them.”
A picture of the ousted Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych, on a dart board in Kiev
(Getty Images)
Mr Pushilin, flanked by advisers in balaclavas, said the “Peoples’ Republic” intended to forge ahead with its own programme – a referendum with the choice of autonomy in a federal Ukraine, independence, or joining Russia. “The date for it is not changing, no later than 11 May,” he said. “We are expecting nothing from Kiev which will make us change our minds.”
Whether the east can expect more troops to arrive from Kiev remains to be seen. The contingent at Kramatorsk, divided between civil and military parts, were remnants of the airborne brigade which captured the airport with a helicopter assault on Sunday, and retreated back there after a “show of force” in the city went disastrously wrong. They lost seven armoured personnel carriers to the separatists.
The small number of soldiers standing in the sunshine yesterday in full combat kit said they were providing tactical support . “We don’t know whether we are going to stay on or go somewhere else. We don’t know what orders we will get next”, said one, cautiously peering at an equally small group of protesters manning a rope barrier 50 yards down the road. “But I think if we are going to stay, we need proper defences. This place is too open to attack.”
Amid the lines of attrition between the separatists and Ukrainian loyalists, local feuds, tensions and prejudices have come into play. In answer to the charge that he had “stolen” the airport, Mr Podushkin insisted that he had borrowed the money.
One of those manning the checkpoint later insisted on telling the “real story”. He said: “This man Podushkin bought this airport at a fraction of the price, and all the land around here. He was working with a senior police officer who also got a cut from all this. This is a strategic military facility, very sensitive; how can this go into private hands?
Ukrainian soldiers fly the flag on top of their armoured vehicle in Kramatorsk
(EPA)
“That is what he’s afraid of; the Russians coming and investigating what went on.”
But were these anything more than rumours? “This is how I know,” said the man, producing his police ID card. “I am now in criminal investigations, murders, robberies; but I used to be in economic crimes branch, so I have some knowledge of these matters.”
This was not, of course, evidence of any guilt on the part of Mr Podushkin. The next statement, by the police captain’s companion, illustrated how social attitudes influence political choices. “This man is a baptised Protestant, so he feels he needs protection from Kiev.”
At nearby Slovyansk, which has become a stronghold for the separatists, Pavel, keeping guard at the captured main police station, tiredly shook his head. “We need to get the airport; not because the owner’s a Protestant or Orthodox, but because Kiev can use it to bring in men and weapons. No one thinks this thing in Geneva will lead to anything. We don’t think so and neither do they.”
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