Ukraine demands Russia stop interfering in its domestic affairs, withdraw troops from border - Turchynov
KYIV. April 24 (Interfax) - Russia should withdraw troops from the border, Verkhovna Rada Chairman, acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov said.
"We demand Russia stop interfering in Ukraine's domestic affairs, cease constant threats and blackmail and withdraw its troops from the eastern border of our country," Turchynov said in his television address on Thursday.
Essentially the entire Donetsk region "is occupied by terrorists," Turchynov said. "Armed criminals seized administrative buildings, took hostages, in particular Ukrainian and foreign reporters, tortured and kill Ukrainian patriots," he said.
The resumption of the forceful operation in south-eastern Ukraine was caused by "real threat" and "the authorities will not retreat to the terrorist threat and will continue taking measures to defend citizens' lives," Turchynov said.
Due to the situation escalation in Ukraine drills of battalion sized tactic groups of the Southern and Western Military districts' mixed forces have begun, Russian Defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu said earlier on Thursday.
