KIEV, Ukraine
Ukraine's security forces are unable to maintain control of Donetsk and Luhansk, Ukrainian acting President Oleksandr Turchynov has said.
Speaking during a meeting with regional governors on Wednesday, Turchynov admitted that security personnel stationed in the two eastern provinces were "helpless" and said some were either supporting or collaborating with "terrorist" groups.
"The situation in Donetsk in particular is very dangerous. Sloviansk is occupied by groups that are controlled by Russia. These are terrorist, and aggressive groups. They take people hostage and kill them," he said, adding that a large number of people in the region believed in Russian propaganda.
Stressing that security forces must ensure that the presidential elections scheduled for May 25 are held, Turchynov said that the elections would go ahead despite Russia's efforts to disrupt the process.
"They finance anti-government groups, because they are aware that the elections are one of the most important factors that would stabilize the situation in Ukraine," Turchynov said, adding that Ukrainian citizens living in Crimea would be able to vote in the neighboring provinces of Kherson and Odessa.
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