Russia will work toward freeing detained European military observers in the eastern Ukrainian town of Slovyansk, Russian news agencies reported Saturday, citing Russia's envoy to the Vienna-based group, the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Europe.
A pro-Russian militant adjusts his mask in Slovyansk , eastern Ukraine, on Friday. The sign on the wall reading "Russ. Russian do not surrender." (Sergei Grits/Associated Press)
"We think that these people need to be freed as soon as possible," Andrei Kelin said in comments cited by Itar-Tass.
"Russia as a member of the OSCE will undertake all possible steps in this matter."
Armed pro-Russian separatists seized a bus carrying international observers from the Vienna-based OSCE on Friday as it approached Slovyansk, Ukraine's Interior Ministry said.
"They are with us in Slovyansk," the de facto mayor of the city, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, told Reuters in front of the seized security service building where, according to the Ukrainian government, the observers are being held. Ukraine's
Ukraine's Security Service, the SBU, described conditions are "inhumane" in the holding area, the building's basement, as "inhumane," and added one of the detainees is in need of medical care.
Ponomaryov said he was informed there was a spy among the observers, and that separatists who seized the bus had found maps showing checkpoints.
On Saturday, a pro-Russian separatist representative in Slovyansk said the observers will remain in custody as an investigation into their activities continues.
Group member accused of spying
"A Bulgarian officer had a notebook on him with notes in Russian confirming his secret activities, meetings with secret agents, and conducting spy activities both against Ukraine and Russia," Yevgeny Gorbik said.
The group comprised three German soldiers, a German translator, and military observers from Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden and Denmark, a spokesman for the German foreign ministry in Berlin said.
Ukrainian government troops inspect a truck on a country road outside the town of Svyitohirsk near Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine on Saturday. (Sergei Grits/Associated Press)
When asked what the Germans are accused of, Gorbik said "nothing so far," but added they were with people "whose activities is a cause of suspicion."
The OSCE has dispatched a negotiating team to try to secure the release of the observers, a German
government source said on Saturday.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk cut short a visit to Italy on Saturday to return to Kyiv. He had planned to attend the canonization ceremonies on Sunday for former popes John Paul II and John XXIII.
Russia accused of violating Ukrainian airspace
Before leaving Rome, Yatseniuk levelled fresh accusations against Russia. He said Russian jets crossed into Ukraine seven times in the last 24 hours.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt wrote on his Twitter account: "Extremely concerned with OSCE inspectors being abducted in a Eastern Ukraine. Including one Swede. They must be released immediately."
Slovyansk is the biggest flashpoint in an armed uprising in eastern Ukraine that has widened into the worst stand-off between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War.
Russia 'starting a third world war'
The United States said on Friday it was prepared to impose further sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine.
The self-styled mayor of Luhansk region Valery Bolotov (left, with microphone) speaks during a rally in front of the seized office of the SBU state security service in Luhansk on April 25. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)
Moscow denies allegations it is directing the separatists, who have taken control of large parts of eastern Ukraine over the past three weeks.
But the White House said U.S. President Barack Obama and European allies all felt that Russia had escalated tension in the region, where the rebels have refused to leave official buildings they have occupied.
Britain and Germany agreed further sanctions were in order, building on targeted U.S. and European sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian individuals following Russia's annexation of Crimea. But none of the three countries gave any details of what the sanctions might be, or when they might be enacted.
The standoff has already led to heavy capital flight from Russia, prompting credit rating agency Standard & Poor's to cut the country's ratings on Friday. That forced the central bank to raise its key interest rate to reverse a drop in the rouble.
Earlier Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared Friday that the pro-Russia insurgents in eastern Ukraine will only lay down their arms if the Ukrainian government clears out the Maidan protest camp in Kyiv.
"The West wants — and this is how it all began — to seize control of Ukraine because of their own political ambitions, not in the interests of the Ukrainian people," Lavrov said.
He added the pro-Russia insurgents will disarm and vacate buildings "only if Kyiv authorities get down to implementing the Geneva accords, clear out that shameful Maidan and liberate the buildings that have been illegally seized."
Ukraine's reaction was swift.
"The world has not yet forgotten the Second World War, but Russia is already keen on starting a third world war," acting Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk retorted.
Geneva deal at issue
At issue is who is adhering to the Geneva deal and what is an illegal occupation. In Geneva, Russia and Ukraine agreed that all illegal groups in Ukraine should be disarmed and all illegally occupied public buildings and spaces should be vacated.
Pro-Russia militia have seized and been occupying government buildings in more than 10 cities in eastern Ukraine.
In the capital of Kyiv, pro-Ukrainian demonstrators continue to operate a tent camp on the city's main square, known as the Maidan, and occupy several buildings nearby, including city hall. Yulia Torhovets, spokeswoman for the Kyiv city government, said Ukrainian nationalists have promised to free city hall by the end of this week.
Ukraine authorities, however, say the Kyiv occupations are at least tacitly legal because authorities have allowed them.
"Without a doubt, they have all the rights to do this," Viktoriya Syumar, a deputy head of Ukraine's Security and Defence Council, told The Associated Press.
Elsewhere, there were scattered reports of violence Friday. Ukraine's Defence Ministry said a grenade fired from a launcher caused an explosion in a helicopter at an airfield outside the eastern city of Kramatorsk that injured a pilot.
In southern Ukraine, seven people were injured by a blast at a checkpoint set up by local authorities and pro-Ukraine activists outside the Black Sea port of Odesa. Police spokesman Volodymyr Shablienko said unknown men had thrown a grenade at the checkpoint.
Moscow in March took control of Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and annexed it weeks later with the blessing of residents, attracting condemnation of the West as well as sanctions targeting individuals.
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