By Nicholas Waller
DONETSK, Ukraine
Several people were injured early Monday evening after a mob of pro-Russia militants armed with truncheons and clubs attacked a rally held in support of a united Ukraine, the Interior Ministry said.
About 200 separatists dressed in military fatigues and balaclavas, carrying Russian Federation and People’s Republic of Donetsk flags, attacked a rally attended by an estimated 2,000 people who were demonstrating in support of national unity in the regional capital Donetsk.
The separatists easily broke through a police cordon after law enforcement officials made a feeble attempt to keep the armed militant group from the rally. The group attacked the pro-Ukraine protesters, leaving several with severe head injuries, Interfax Ukraine reported.
- Russia responds to G7 statements, lashes out at ‘ultimatum’
Russia’s Foreign Ministry hit back at the G7’s (Canada, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, the U.K., the U.S) statements on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, calling the group’s assessment of the situation ‘troubling and condescending’.
"The content and tone of the joint statement of the G7, the chairs of the European Council and European Commission is deeply troubling," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also said it would not accept any ultimatums or threats as part of the process for resolving the ongoing conflict.
In a joint statement released Saturday, the G7 agreed to impose further economic sanctions on Moscow and condemned Russia’s lack of support for the Geneva accord on April 17 aimed at defusing the crisis.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
