Ukrainian troops begin special operation in Slavyansk - reports

The Ukrainian army has reportedly begun a special operation against pro-autonomy activists in the eastern town of Slavyansk early Friday morning, as air raid sirens went off and gunfire was heard.

Slovyank self-defense forces told RIA Novosti that the Ukrainian military has attacked several positions.

“The attack is targeting a few roadblocks at the same time. A few armored vehicles and airborne combat vehicles arrived and airborne troops descended from the helicopters and attacked the roadblocks. Some forces were dropped off around the train station, where we didn’t have anyone,” RIA Novosti quoted the press secretary of the Slavyansk self-defense units as saying.

NATO Secretary-General warns Moscow against further intervention in Ukraine

NATO Secretary-General has warned Russia that further intervention in Ukraine would be a “historic mistake” with grave consequences.

Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Moscow must pull back troops it has massed on the Ukrainian border. On Tuesday, Ukraine regained control of one of the government buildings occupied by pro-Russian activists in the east of the country.

Tensions as Ukrainian Government detains Pro-Russian protesters in Donetsk

There were tense scenes in Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk as  several dozen pro-Russia protesters were detained during a police operation to  clear demonstrators from the regional administration centre.

The building had been occupied by pro-Russian protesters since Wednesday evening and was taken over by police on Thursday.

Protesters in the ethnic Russian  stronghold demanded a referendum for greater autonomy in the region. Some called for union with Russia. 

"We are all Russians, we are  slavic. We want to live in a big, strong country, not in the divided thumb of
one arm," one local resident said. [AP]

ALJAZEERA

Crimea Updates: Crimea referendum would violate international law - Obama

[AFP] United State President Barack Obama has warned that a referendum in Crimea on joining Russia would violate Ukraine's constitution and international law.

Obama spoke hours after the United States imposed visa bans on certain senior Russian officials and moved towards wider sanctions against individuals and entities in Moscow, to punish the Kremlin's incursion into Ukraine.