Ukraine Alert As Politician Killed
Ukraine's acting President has ordered the relaunch of military operations against Pro Russian militants in the East , after two men , one a local politician , were "tourtured to death"
Oleksandr Turchnov said the body of politician Vladimir Rybak was found near rebel held Sloviansk
"The terrorists who effectively took the whole Donetsk region hostage have now gone too far" he said
The move came as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was visiting Ukraine , as he met Ukrainian leaders in Kiev , Mr. Biden called on Russia to "stop talking and start acting" to defuse the Ukraine crisis , the U.S. and the West accuse Russia of using covert forces to back separatists in Eastern Ukraine , where public buildings are occupied in at least nine cities and towns , Russia denies involvement
Mr. Biden warned Russia that further "provocating behaviour" would lead to " greater isolation" and urged Moscow to end it's alleged support for Pro Russian militants
The Vice President called on Moscow to urge the Pro Russian separatists to leave the buildings they are occupying and to abandon check points
The U.S. is to provide an additional $50m(£ 30m) for political and economic reforms inn Ukraine , including $11m to help run the Presidential election due on May 25th , in another U.S. move , Washington is sending 600 troops to take part in Nato exercises in the three Baltic States and Poland
Announcing the decision to reactivate the military operation in Eastern Ukraine , Mr. Turchynov said in a statement "I call on the security bodies to resume and carry out successful anti terrorist measures aimed at defending Ukrainian citizens living in the East of Ukraine against terrorists"
Mr. Rybak had gone missing recently and according to police , his body was found in a river , "these crimes are being committed with the full support and connivance of the Russian Federation" Mr. Turchynov said
Kiev's military operation to end the occupation of buildings began on April 16th , but was suspended over the Easter period
In another incident , a Ukrainian military surveillance plane was hit by small arms fire over Eastern Ukraine , the defence ministry said , the aircraft , an Antonov AN-30 , suffered minor damage over Sloviansk when it was targeted by automatic gunfire , according to the ministry no one was hurt and the plane returned safely to Kiev