Kiev admits two cities beyond control

Armed men stand next to a TV set as they guard the entrance of the occupied Office of Public Prosecutor in Lugansk, Ukraine, 30 April 2014. Photo: EPA/Zurab Kurtsikdze

“They are helpless in these matters,” he told a meeting of regional leaders on Wednesday.

“Moreover, some of the units are either helping or cooperating with terrorist organisations,” he claimed.

“The primary task that we are facing is to prevent the spread of the terrorist threat to other regions of Ukraine,” he said.

Pro-Russian separatists proclaimed a Republic of Lugansk on Monday, and public buildings continue to be seized in Donetsk and other eastern Ukrainian cities, including Horlivka.

Meanwhile, Poland's foreign ministry has said that talks are advancing concerning hostages from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe who were seized last week by pro-Russian militants in Slovyansk.

The OSCE group, which includes one Pole, three Germans, a Czech and a Dane was hijacked on Friday while nearing a checkpoint on the outskirts of Slovyansk. Talks are being led by OSCE and Switzerland, with the organisation currently chaired by Swiss foreign minister Didier Burkhalter.

One member of the group, a Swede who suffers from diabetes, was released on Monday on medical grounds. (nh)

Source: PAP/Interfax/IAR