The Ukrainian authorities issued a 48-hour ultimatum to pro-Russian separatists in eastern cities on Wednesday, telling them to leave the public buildings they were occupying or face “forceful” action.
Separatist protesters demanding unification with Russia seized and occupied government buildings in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk on Sunday night, in what Ukrainian and US officials have described as a plan coordinated by Moscow plan to destabilise the country.
Ukrainian police and interior ministry special forces cleared protesters out of the regional administration building in a bloodless operation in Kharkiv early on Tuesday, but protesters continue to hold the regional administration building in Donetsk and the Ukrainian Security Service’s (USB) building in Luhansk.
The activists have also established roadblocks on some highways around Donetsk as a precaution against the arrival of security forces from elsewhere in Ukraine.
Arsen Avakov, Ukraine’s acting interior minister, said that the standoffs in Lukhansk and Donetsk would be “resolved in 48 hours”, adding: “There are two options: political settlement through talks or use of force. The minority who want conflict will get a forceful answer from the Ukrainian authorities.”
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Mr Avakov personally oversaw the police operation that cleared protesters out of the Kharkiv regional government headquarters.
The coordinating council of the Donetsk protesters met the regional governor for talks on Wednesday night.
The protesters have created a two-tier bulwark of sandbags and tyres covered in razor wire around the entrance to the regional administration building.
In emulation of the pro-European protest movement that brought down former president Viktor Yanukovych in February, many of the protesters were dressed in mixed camouflage and wearing orange hard hats.
In Luhansk, activists armed with assault rifles looted from the building’s armoury had released 56 hostages by Wednesday morning, Ukrainian authorities said.
The leader of the besieged Luhansk separatists issued an appeal to Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, apparently asking him for military assistance. “Mr Putin, have mercy on your fighters. If you lose us then you will lose the last hope to create a good neighbour,” said the man, identified only as Vitaly by the BBC.
John Kerry, the US secretary of state, warned on Tuesday that Russia was using spies and special forces to fuel protests as a possible pretext to a Crimea-style takeover in eastern Ukraine. Moscow said there were “no grounds” for concern about its troops crossing the border.
On Wednesday, Nato’s top military commander in Europe, US Air Force Gen Philip Breedlove, said the organisation was drafting countermoves to the Russian military threat against Ukraine, which could include sending American troops to alliance nations in Eastern Europe feeling at risk.
Meanwhile, Mr Putin signalled that he may step up the economic pressure on Kiev. At a government meeting in Moscow, he ordered consultations with Ukraine before possibly switching to a pre-payment system for Russian gas, as well as withdrawing various forms of economic support.
He said Russia ”provides economic support and subsidises Ukraine’s economy with hundreds of millions and billions of dollars”, before adding: “This situation, of course, can’t go on forever.”
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