Saturday, March 15, 2014

Ukraine Tense Prior to Crimean Referendum


Russian troops near Ukraine's eastern border are participating in drills just one day before the Crimean referendum where the peninsula will vote as to whether to join Russia. Ukraine and Russia have been increasingly at odds. The two nations attempted, but failed, yesterday to work out a peace deal. In the absence of a peace deal, the Ukrainian parliament voted to strip the virtually autonomous Crimean parliament of its powers. The actions was rather symbolic and is not expected to impact the referendum in Crimea tomorrow.

Violence is also spreading throughout eastern Ukraine. Two died in Kharkiv last night in a shootout between Ukrainian nationalists and pro-Russian demonstrators. This comes one day after protests resulted in one death and 17 injuries in Donetsk, also in eastern Ukraine.

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