UKRAINE: Ukraine's acting president says future on line in presidential election as fighting intensifies

Record ID: 375747

  • Title: UKRAINE: Ukraine's acting president says future on line in presidential election as fighting intensifies
  • Date: 23rd May 2014
  • Summary: LYSICHANSK, UKRAINE (MAY 22, 2014) (REUTERS) RUSSIAN FLAGS AT CHECKPOINT SEPARATISTS CHECKING CARS MORE OF SEPARATISTS SHAKING HANDS WOMAN WITH KALASHNIKOV WOMEN AT CHECKPOINT SEPARATISTS WITH APCS SIGN READING LYSICHANSK IN RUSSIAN COLOURS SMOKE SEPARATISTS RUSHING THROUGH WOODS AUDIO OF FIRING TRUCK WITH RUSSIAN FLAG AND SEPARATISTS SEPARATISTS WALKING DOWN ROAD HOUSE ON
  • Embargoed: 7th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAE7ZTLW75PKVFF8UW64G9L15B4
  • Story Text: Acting President Oleksander Turchinov on Friday (May 23) urged voters to cast their votes at Sunday's presidential election as fighting intensified in the east between soldiers and separatists who have vowed to disrupt the poll.
    In his address to the nation, two days before the May 25 elections, he repeated accusations that Russia was trying to destabilise Ukraine in the east adding that the vote was crucial in the fight for sovereignty, peace and stability within Europe.
    "Dear compatriots, on Sunday May 25 we will have the Ukrainian presidential elections. For the last three months our enemies have done everything they could to destabilise the situation and disrupt the elections. But Ukrainians are stronger and wiser. Today we are building a new European country the foundation of which was laid by millions of Ukrainians who have proved they were able to protect and defend their choice, their country. We will never allow anyone to deprive us of our freedom and independence and to turn our Ukraine into a part of the post-Soviet empire. I believe that together we are can turn Ukraine in a democratic and lawful country in which everyone will feel safe to live and raise their children, where authorities will be accountable to the people and the state will work for the people. Remember, Ukraine's future depends on you, the citizens. God bless Ukraine, God bless you and your families," Turchinov said in his address to the nation, two days before the election.
    Turchinov spoke as military sources said armed pro-Russian separatists had ambushed a convoy of pro-Ukraine self-defence fighters around Karlovka, near Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk.
    The commander of a pro-Ukrainian militia group called the Donbass region battalion, Semen Semenchenko, said on his Facebook page: "They (the separatists) are using automatic weapons, snipers and grenade launchers against the battalion."
    The nearby hospital told Reuters TV they had received three wounded who were moved to Donetsk.
    On Thursday, at least 13 Ukrainian servicemen were killed in a firefight with rebel gunmen near Volnovakha, south of Donetsk.
    There was also fighting near Lysichansk, north west of Luhansk, where a house was set alight by what witnesses said was mortar fire.
    Ukrainian military planes flew overhead as separatists holding a pro-Russian checkpoint. Audio of gunfire rung out near homes.
    Nearby Donetsk and Luhansk have proclaimed 'people's republics' and have vowed to disrupt Sunday's presidential election.
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