00:45Ukraine: Security forces regain control outside Rada after violent clashes
Police officers and National Guard servicemen regained control of the square in front of the Verkhovna Rada in Kiev, Monday, following a day of violent clashes that saw one police officer killed and dozens of other officers and National Guard servicemen injured. A combat grenade was thrown towards the police and national guard officers who were trying to prevent protesters from getting too close to the Ukrainian parliament building. One officer was killed after being hit by shrapnel from the grenade.
Clashes erupted earlier in the day after around 1,000 nationalist activists gathered outside the Ukrainian parliament to protest against a draft bill on constitutional changes that would grant greater autonomy to the Donbass region. The draft amendment will make constitutional changes regarding the status of Donbass. Protesters oppose what they see as Donbass being given greater autonomy, saying it would threaten the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Ukrainian MPs voted in favour of the bill following a tense session of parliament.
Greater autonomy for Donbass was a key component of the Minsk agreements and granting special status to the region has been a central issue for the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine. Leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republic (DPR/LPR) see special status for the region as key to deescalating tensions in the east of the country.
00:45Police officers and National Guard servicemen regained control of the square in front of the Verkhovna Rada in Kiev, Monday, following a day of violent clashes that saw one police officer killed and dozens of other officers and National Guard servicemen injured. A combat grenade was thrown towards the police and national guard officers who were trying to prevent protesters from getting too close to the Ukrainian parliament building. One officer was killed after being hit by shrapnel from the grenade.
Clashes erupted earlier in the day after around 1,000 nationalist activists gathered outside the Ukrainian parliament to protest against a draft bill on constitutional changes that would grant greater autonomy to the Donbass region. The draft amendment will make constitutional changes regarding the status of Donbass. Protesters oppose what they see as Donbass being given greater autonomy, saying it would threaten the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Ukrainian MPs voted in favour of the bill following a tense session of parliament.
Greater autonomy for Donbass was a key component of the Minsk agreements and granting special status to the region has been a central issue for the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine. Leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republic (DPR/LPR) see special status for the region as key to deescalating tensions in the east of the country.