Pro-Russia forces strengthen position in eastern Ukraine

Pro-Russia militants seized more key buildings in east Ukraine today, tightening their grip on towns in the region.

Armed separatists took control of the town hall and police headquarters in Kostyantynivka. Men carrying Kalashnikov rifles and wearing unmarked uniforms were reported to have set up barricades and a perimeter fence around the police station.

EU and US leaders vowed to hit Russia with fresh sanctions for stirring unrest in Ukraine. In a sign of crumbling diplomatic relations, Russia signalled it would close Nato’s Moscow office.

Kostyantynivka, with a population of 80,000, is strategically located between Donetsk, where militants have declared a “people’s republic”, and the separatist stronghold of Slovyansk. A Ukraine interior ministry spokesman said: “At 6am, about 30 separatists came to the local police headquarters and occupied the ground floor. Negotiations are under way with the police chief. We do not know what their demands are.”

Yesterday pro-Russians seized the state TV studio in regional capital Don-etsk. Masked men claiming to represent the Donetsk People’s Republic said it would now broadcast only Russian state TV. Russian channels have been banned by the Kiev government, which says they spread propaganda. A militant told reporters: “Journalists will be allowed to work but will have to tell the truth. The Russian channels tell the truth.”

Pro-Russians say they will hold referendums on independence. Days ago Kiev vowed to conduct a military operation to clear them out. But last night separatists in balaclavas paraded three captured Ukrainian soldiers — bloodied, blindfolded and stripped of their trousers — in front of the media.

They did the same with eight European military observers captured in Slovyansk, who they claimed were “Nato spies”. But the monitors are from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Germany called the TV parade “revolting”. One captive was released on health grounds.

EU diplomats will meet to agree sanctions on up to 15 more Russian individuals. Barack Obama said the US will also levy new sanctions today, targeting people and sectors such as high-tech exports to Russia’s defence industry. Russia denies destabilising Ukraine.