Russia escalates tensions with aid convoy, reported firing of artillery inside Ukraine

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span class="dateline">MOSCOW —</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The conflict between Russia and Ukraine hit dangerous new heights Friday as Russia sent an enormous aid convoy into rebel-held Ukrainian territory without the permission of the Kiev government, a move that a top Ukrainian security official described as a “direct invasion.” The maneuver came amid reports from NATO that Ukrainian troops were coming under Russian artillery fire from inside their borders.</span><br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Russian artillery support — both cross-border and from within Ukraine — is being employed against the Ukrainian armed forces,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a <a href="http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_112089.htm" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-decoration: none; zoom: 1;" title="www.nato.int">statement</a> accusing Moscow of a “blatant breach of Russia’s international commitments” that would intensify a crisis he said it had helped to create and fuel.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The disregard of international humanitarian principles raises further questions about whether the true purpose of the aid convoy is to support civilians or to resupply armed separatists,” Rasmussen said. It was the strongest denunciation of Russia’s role in Ukraine that NATO has issued and the first time the alliance has accused Russian forces of firing artillery at the Ukrainian army from within Ukraine.</span></div> <div id="U8004045876066wOE" style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The charges coincide with Russia’s decision to move a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/280-russian-aid-trucks-depart-for-ukraines-eastern-conflict-zones/2014/08/12/be9d7a92-5e5b-484c-8297-d13061b780c3_story.html" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-decoration: none; zoom: 1;" title="www.washingtonpost.com">convoy</a> of more than 200 trucks into Ukraine on Friday without either government permission or the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/reports-280-russian-aid-trucks-leave-for-ukraine/2014/08/12/29c08db6-21e8-11e4-8b10-7db129976abb_story.html" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-decoration: none; zoom: 1;" title="www.washingtonpost.com">participation</a> of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).</span></div> <br /> <div class="wp-inline-bb pb-centered-bb has-subscribe-promo" id="slug_inline_bb" style="background-position: 123px -398px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; clear: both; float: none !important; height: auto !important; margin: 6px auto 30px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 300px;"> </div> <br /> <div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday morning that Moscow had run out of patience with “delays” and other “excuses” from Ukraine after a nearly 10-day standoff. It said Ukraine’s leaders were deliberately trying to slow-walk the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/putin-says-sanctions-coming-against-west-new-calls-for-ukraine-intervention-mission/2014/08/05/6c4b886b-1ea2-4b32-bf1e-c229a693ddde_story.html" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #2e6d9d; text-decoration: none; zoom: 1;" title="www.washingtonpost.com">delivery of aid</a> to the war-torn region of Luhansk until “there is no one at all to provide help to.”</div> <div class="inline-content inline-graphic-linked" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin: 20px 0px; padding: 20px 0px;"> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">        </span></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div> <div class="photo-wrapper" style="position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russian-aid-trucks-enter-ukraine/2014/08/22/7f8a31b0-2a13-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a_graphic.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><img class="" data-hi-res-src="http://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_1484w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Graphics/w-ukraine-convoy-8-22-14_promo.jpg?uuid=QXb3CioTEeSLEH2xKZdquw" data-low-res-src="http://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_480w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Graphics/w-ukraine-convoy-8-22-14_promo.jpg?uuid=QXb3CioTEeSLEH2xKZdquw" src="http://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_1484w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Graphics/w-ukraine-convoy-8-22-14_promo.jpg?uuid=QXb3CioTEeSLEH2xKZdquw" style="border: 0px; width: 599px;" /></a><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russian-aid-trucks-enter-ukraine/2014/08/22/7f8a31b0-2a13-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a_graphic.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="overlay" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; bottom: 0px; display: inline-block; left: 0px; margin: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 15px 20px; position: absolute;"><span class="headline">Russian aid trucks enter Ukraine </span><span class="view-graphic">VIEW GRAPHIC <span class="fa fa-arrow-circle-right" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: inline-block;"></span></span></span></a></span></span></div> </div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The White House condemned the Russian action and said it raised the likelihood that Russia planned the convoy as a pretext for invasion.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“At the same time as Russian vehicles violate Ukraine’s sovereignty, Russia maintains a sizeable military force on the Ukrainian border capable of invading Ukraine on very short notice,” National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said. “We recall that Russia denied its military was occupying Crimea until it later admitted its military role and attempt to annex this part of Ukraine.”</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, the supreme allied commander in Europe, separately condemned “Russia’s illegal incursion” into Ukraine as he expressed concern about the massing of 20,000 Russian “combat-ready troops” on the border with eastern Ukraine and the flow of Russian arms and operatives to pro-Moscow separatist forces. The unauthorized convoy “indicates that Russia is more interested in resupplying separatists rather than supporting local populations,” Breedlove said in a statement.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ukrainian authorities appeared to be scrambling Friday to decide how to respond to the border incursion.</span></div> <div id="U8004045876066E5F" style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Officials had threatened a military response if the Russian convoy tried to force its way into Ukraine, despite the risk of triggering an all-out invasion by Russian forces. Yet allowing the trucks to disperse across the Luhansk region without any Ukrainian controls in effect allows Russia to force a cease-fire in Kiev’s fight against pro-Russian separatists.</span></div> <br /> <div class="wp-inline-bb pb-centered-bb has-subscribe-promo" id="slug_inline_bb_2" style="background-position: 123px -398px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; clear: both; float: none !important; height: auto !important; margin: 6px auto 30px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 300px;"> </div> <br /> <div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 24px;"> State security chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko told journalists in Kiev that Ukrainian forces would not use force against the convoy because they want to avoid “provocations.” But Ukraine’s prime minister struck a more confrontational tone.</div> <br /> <div id="U8004045876066bGB" style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It’s clear that Russia is not planning to conduct any humanitarian mission,” Arseniy Yatsenyuk said on national television. “We need to use all methods to stop Russian military aggression.”</span></div> <div class="inline-content inline-gallery-embedded" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin: 20px 0px; padding: 20px 0px;"> <div class="pb-feature-ssi-single pb-f-gallery-gallery" data-pb-content-uri="/pb/galleryEmbed/6141af22-2634-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce" data-pb-name="gallery-gallery" id="gallery-embed_1398960200458_283" style="padding: 0px !important;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal wp-volt-gal-p-end-circle wp-volt-gal-promo-stub wp-volt-gal-filters-enabled wp-volt-gal-small" data-category="Foreign" data-commercial-node="world" data-permalink="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/fighting-rages-on-in-eastern-ukraine/2014/08/17/6141af22-2634-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce_gallery.html" data-preroll-zone="" data-published="1408629600" data-section="world" data-show-interstitials="true" data-show-preroll="true" data-slug="fighting-rages-on-in-eastern-ukraine" data-subsection="" data-title="Russian aid convoy crosses into Ukraine" data-uuid="6141af22-2634-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-bar" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 5px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-nav" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-nav-number" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; float: left; margin: 0px 4px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="wp-volt-gal-nav-number-current" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1</span> of 38</span></div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-nav-buttons" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="wp-volt-gal-nav-button wp-volt-gal-nav-prev" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 4px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: -2px; width: 16px;"> </div>  <div class="wp-volt-gal-nav-button wp-volt-gal-nav-next" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 4px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: -2px; width: 16px;"> </div> </span></div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-main" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; margin: 0px; min-height: 250px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 398px; position: relative;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-photos" style="-webkit-transform: translateX(0%); -webkit-transition: -webkit-transform 300ms; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: -webkit-transform 300ms; width: 599px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo wp-volt-gal-item-loaded" data-buy="false" data-caption="The first trucks of a Russian convoy drive on the main road to Luhansk near the village of Uralo-Kavkaz, Ukraine. " data-credit="Sergei Grits/AP" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/APTOPIX_Ukraine-04095-16083.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="5322" data-ratio="1.788" data-title=" Aug. 22, 2014" data-uuid="b486d5e4-2a1d-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/APTOPIX_Ukraine-04095-16083.jpg?env=A); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: contain; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo wp-volt-gal-item-loaded" data-buy="false" data-caption="A woman and a boy who have fled fighting in eastern Ukraine walk near the convoy close to the Russia-Ukraine border. " data-credit="Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/2014-08-22T102001Z_01_MOS63_RTRIDSP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS-AID-CONVOY.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="3500" data-ratio="1.511" data-title=" Aug. 22, 2014" data-uuid="b34e8952-2a08-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/2014-08-22T102001Z_01_MOS63_RTRIDSP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS-AID-CONVOY.jpg?env=A); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: contain; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo wp-volt-gal-item-loaded" data-buy="false" data-caption="A woman named Anastasia greets her son Daniel, 4, who just crossed the border into Russia from Sukhodilsk in eastern Ukraine." data-credit="Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/2014-08-22T130441Z_01_MOS72_RTRIDSP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="3500" data-ratio="1.534" data-title=" Aug. 22, 2014" data-uuid="c638ad24-2a06-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/2014-08-22T130441Z_01_MOS72_RTRIDSP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS.jpg?env=A); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: contain; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo wp-volt-gal-item-loaded" data-buy="false" data-caption="People stand in line to cross into Ukrainian territory from Russia’s Rostov region." data-credit="Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/2014-08-22T130303Z_01_MOS74_RTRIDSP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="3500" data-ratio="1.452" data-title=" Aug. 22, 2014" data-uuid="a0cf31c2-2a1d-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/2014-08-22T130303Z_01_MOS74_RTRIDSP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS.jpg?env=A); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: contain; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo wp-volt-gal-item-loaded" data-buy="false" data-caption="Volunteers sort military aid in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv before sending it to Ukrainian troops taking part in operations in the country’s east, where fighting against pro-Russian separatists continues." data-credit="Yurko Dyachyshyn/AFP/Getty Images" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/Par7955324.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="3898" data-ratio="1.544" data-title=" Aug. 22, 2014" data-uuid="c35ffe1a-2a1d-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/Par7955324.jpg?env=A); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: contain; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="A nurse provides medical care to a Ukrainian soldier in Mariupol. " data-credit="Alexander Khudoteply/AFP/Getty Images" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/Par7955313.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="5520" data-ratio="1.5" data-title=" Aug. 22, 2014" data-uuid="e0e184c2-2a1d-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="A man removes debris after a rocket launched by the Ukrainian army hit a history museum in downtown Donetsk, Ukraine. Residential areas in several parts of the city, a rebel stronghold, came under fire the night before, according to the press center of the city council. " data-credit="Sergei Ilnitsky/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/04363364.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4096" data-ratio="1.56" data-title=" Aug. 22, 2014" data-uuid="2d5aa612-2a1e-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="A man inspects debris after a rocket from the Ukrainian army hit a museum in Donetsk, Ukraine." data-credit="Sergei Ilnitsky/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/04363358.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4096" data-ratio="1.526" data-title=" Aug. 22, 2014" data-uuid="3669fc3a-2a1e-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Ukrainian servicemen operate a Mi-24 gunship above a military base in the eastern town of Kramatorsk, Ukraine." data-credit="Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/2014-08-22T091438Z_01_MOS54_RTRIDSP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="2200" data-ratio="1.44" data-title=" Aug. 22, 2014" data-uuid="41f1ccc2-2a1e-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="A doctor and volunteers carry humanitarian aid drugs from different Russian organizations at a hospital in a suburb of Donetsk, Ukraine." data-credit="Sergei Ilnitsky/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/04363827.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4096" data-ratio="1.604" data-title=" Aug. 22, 2014" data-uuid="8600bd66-2a1d-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-title" data-uuid="" style="background-position: 0px -10000px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-holder" style="border: 0px; bottom: 9%; box-sizing: border-box; left: 8%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 503px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-main" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">  AUG. 21, 2014</div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="The graves of pro-Russian separatists are seen at a graveyard on the edge of Donetsk, Ukraine." data-credit="Maxim Shemetov/Reuters" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/22/Foreign/Images/2014-08-21T160511Z_01_MOS51_RTRIDSP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS-DONETSK-BURIALS.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="3500" data-ratio="1.597" data-title=" Aug. 21, 2014" data-uuid="7dd50204-2a1e-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Ukrainian soldiers stand by a tank near the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk. A Ukrainian warplane was blown out of the sky over rebel-held territory as fierce clashes between government troops and pro-Russian insurgents left dozens of civilians dead. " data-credit="Aleksey Chernyshev/AFP/Getty Images" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/21/Foreign/Images/Par7954442.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4000" data-ratio="1.498" data-title=" Aug. 21, 2014" data-uuid="eb9761c2-2953-11e4-8593-da634b334390" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Galina, a local resident, cries in front of her house in the village of Olenivka, eastern Ukraine. On Aug. 18, shelling destroyed and damaged some 30 houses in Olenivka, killed a woman and injured two. Pro-Russian rebels and government troops accuse the other of being responsible." data-credit="Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/21/Foreign/Images/Par7954657.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="5000" data-ratio="1.498" data-title=" Aug. 21, 2014" data-uuid="189c5472-2952-11e4-8593-da634b334390" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="A man clears rubble from his destroyed house after shelling in the village of Olenivka, south of the besieged rebel stronghold of Donetsk." data-credit="Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/21/Foreign/Images/Par7954709-15955.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4500" data-ratio="1.503" data-title=" Aug. 21, 2014" data-uuid="e1b2a6be-2951-11e4-8593-da634b334390" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-title" data-uuid="" style="background-position: 0px -10000px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-holder" style="border: 0px; bottom: 9%; box-sizing: border-box; left: 8%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 503px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-main" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">  AUG. 20, 2014</div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Ukrainian soldiers gather at a point close to Luhansk, eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian troops made a significant push into rebel-held territory, claiming control over a large part of Luhansk and encircling the largest rebel-held city, Donetsk." data-credit="Petro Zadorozhnyy/AP" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/21/Foreign/Images/Ukraine-0aa64.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="5542" data-ratio="1.659" data-title=" Aug. 20, 2014" data-uuid="aeaf7a20-2952-11e4-8593-da634b334390" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="A man picks up debris after the Ukrainian army shelled downtown Donetsk." data-credit="Sergei Ilnitsky/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/21/Foreign/Images/04361583.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4096" data-ratio="1.523" data-title=" Aug. 20, 2014" data-uuid="96fbc3ac-2952-11e4-8593-da634b334390" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="A woman stands behind broken glass in her apartment, which was damaged in a Ukrainian army shelling of downtown Donetsk." data-credit="Sergei Ilnitsky/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/21/Foreign/Images/04361538.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4096" data-ratio="1.675" data-title=" Aug. 20, 2014" data-uuid="fef866ea-2952-11e4-8593-da634b334390" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="A man makes a call while sitting in the rubble of a grocery store in a block of flats damaged by shelling in Donetsk." data-credit="Sergei Ilnitsky/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/21/Foreign/Images/04361540.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4096" data-ratio="1.591" data-title=" Aug. 20, 2014" data-uuid="fe437604-2952-11e4-8593-da634b334390" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="A man with a dog stands in front of a building damaged by shelling in Donetsk." data-credit="Maxim Shemetov/Reuters" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/21/Foreign/Images/2014-08-20T181827Z_01_DON11_RTRIDSP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="3436" data-ratio="1.468" data-title=" Aug. 20, 2014" data-uuid="a5cfe70a-2952-11e4-8593-da634b334390" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Ukrainian soldiers pass close to their military camp near Luhansk. The Ukrainian town of Makeyevka and different suburbs of Donetsk have been shelled by the Ukrainian army." data-credit="Roman Pilipey/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/21/Foreign/Images/04361343.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="2999" data-ratio="1.527" data-title=" Aug. 20, 2014" data-uuid="c49310a4-2952-11e4-8593-da634b334390" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-title" data-uuid="" style="background-position: 0px -10000px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-holder" style="border: 0px; bottom: 9%; box-sizing: border-box; left: 8%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 503px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-main" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">  AUG. 18, 2014</div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Children look out from a bus before leaving for a train station at a refugee camp set up by the Russian Emergencies Ministry near Donetsk." data-credit="Pavel Golovkin/AP" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/21/Foreign/Images/AP10ThingsToSee_-_Russia_Ukraine-071bd-15957.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="5184" data-ratio="1.5" data-title=" Aug. 18, 2014" data-uuid="ec10be5c-2951-11e4-8593-da634b334390" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Refugees from eastern Ukraine line up to get food in a refugee camp near the Russian city of Donetsk, about nine miles from the Ukrainian border. " data-credit="Dmitry Serebryakov/AFP/Getty Images" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/18/Foreign/Images/Par7952611.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4928" data-ratio="1.502" data-title=" Aug. 18, 2014" data-uuid="2e2e82ae-26de-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Children play with a ball at a temporary tent camp set up for Ukrainian refugees outside Donetsk, Russia." data-credit="Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/18/Foreign/Images/2014-08-18T131442Z_01_MOS15_RTRIDSP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="3500" data-ratio="1.636" data-title=" Aug. 18, 2014" data-uuid="516af96e-26de-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="People gather at the camp outside Donetsk." data-credit="Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/18/Foreign/Images/2014-08-18T130650Z_01_MOS12_RTRIDSP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="3500" data-ratio="1.549" data-title=" Aug. 18, 2014" data-uuid="58030816-26de-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Ukrainian refugees sit inside a tent at a refugee camp about six miles from the Ukrainian border in the Rostov region of Russia." data-credit="Yuri Kochetkov/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/18/Foreign/Images/04358957.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4096" data-ratio="1.52" data-title=" Aug. 18, 2014" data-uuid="8034e98a-26de-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="A man stands in front of a damaged house, in Khartsyzk, about 15 miles from Donetsk, Ukraine." data-credit="Sergei Ilnitsky/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/18/Foreign/Images/04358972.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4096" data-ratio="1.518" data-title=" Aug. 18, 2014" data-uuid="8f39ef16-26de-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="A woman collects belongings from her damaged home in Khartsyzk." data-credit="Sergei Ilnitsky/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/18/Foreign/Images/04358971.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4096" data-ratio="1.606" data-title=" Aug. 18, 2014" data-uuid="9018e680-26de-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-title" data-uuid="" style="background-position: 0px -10000px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-holder" style="border: 0px; bottom: 9%; box-sizing: border-box; left: 8%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 503px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-main" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">  AUG. 17, 2014</div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Alla Baygusheva shows a burned door in her damaged house after fighting between militants and Ukrainian forces in the eastern Ukrainian village of Seleznevka, near Slovyansk. According to local residents, more than 80 percent of the buildings in the village were damaged." data-credit="Roman Pilipey/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/17/Foreign/Images/04358452.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="3000" data-ratio="1.5" data-title="Aug. 17, 2014" data-uuid="65cd7bec-2649-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Alexey Danilenko looks through a window in a building that was destroyed after fighting in Seleznevka. Ukrainian army troops have penetrated another city in eastern Ukraine — the rebel-controlled Luhansk — in what could be a breakthrough development in the conflict, the Ukrainian government said Sunday. However, the military acknowledged that a fighter plane was shot down by the separatists." data-credit="Roman Pilipey/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/17/Foreign/Images/04358435.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4096" data-ratio="1.499" data-title="Aug. 17, 2014" data-uuid="55bbf8b6-2647-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Danilenko and a neighbor show a damaged car after fighting between rebels and Ukrainian forces in Seleznevka." data-credit="Roman Pilipey/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/17/Foreign/Images/04358428.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4096" data-ratio="1.513" data-title="Aug. 17, 2014" data-uuid="2859236a-2649-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Danilenko holds a shell he found after fighting between militants and Ukrainian forces in Seleznevka, near Slovyansk." data-credit="Roman Pilipey/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/17/Foreign/Images/04358374.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4096" data-ratio="1.499" data-title="Aug. 17, 2014" data-uuid="5313d8fc-2649-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Danilenko and his sister, Olya, look at destroyed buildings in their neighborhood." data-credit="Roman Pilipey/European Pressphoto Agency" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/17/Foreign/Images/04358363.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4096" data-ratio="1.499" data-title="Aug. 17, 2014" data-uuid="50552238-2649-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo wp-volt-gal-item-loaded" data-buy="false" data-caption="Buildings in Donetsk, the main rebel-held city in eastern Ukraine, are reflected by a mirrored surface. Donetsk also is suffering through fighting, including frequent shelling. Ten civilians had been killed and eight wounded in the past 24 hours, city authorities reported Sunday. " data-credit="Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/17/Foreign/Images/2014-08-17T184800Z_01_DON09_RTRIDSP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="2988" data-ratio="1.564" data-title="Aug. 17, 2014 " data-uuid="40521ff8-2649-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/17/Foreign/Images/2014-08-17T184800Z_01_DON09_RTRIDSP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS.jpg?env=A); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: contain; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-slide wp-volt-gal-photo" data-buy="false" data-caption="Drivers for a Russian humanitarian convoy wait at a checkpoint at the Ukrainian border outside Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Russia." data-credit="Dmitry Serebryakov/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images" data-image="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/08/17/Foreign/Images/Par7952176.jpg?env=A" data-max-width="4491" data-ratio="1.473" data-title="Aug. 17, 2014" data-uuid="7f0629c4-2649-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 599px;"> </div> </span></div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-overlay" style="-webkit-transition: visibility 300ms ease 0ms, opacity 300ms; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 398px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: visibility 300ms ease 0ms, opacity 300ms; visibility: hidden; width: 599px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-backdrop" style="-webkit-filter: blur(15px); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: contain; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 398px; margin: -1px 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-gradient" style="background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039) 100%); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 398px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 599px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-holder" style="border: 0px; bottom: 9%; box-sizing: border-box; left: 8%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 503px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-main" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-title-subtitle" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-ad" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 300ms, visibility 300ms; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 398px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 10px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 300ms, visibility 300ms; visibility: hidden; width: 599px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-ad-wrap" style="background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 1px solid rgb(51, 51, 51); box-sizing: border-box; height: 252px; left: 50%; margin: -126px 0px 0px -151px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 50%; width: 302px;"> </div> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-preroll" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 300ms, visibility 300ms; background-image: url(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/projects/supergrid/img/loading-black-100x100.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 398px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 10px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 300ms, visibility 300ms; visibility: hidden; width: 599px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-preroll-video" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 378px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 579px;"> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-preroll-text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-details" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-details-wrap" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 160px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-details-main" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="wp-volt-gal-blurb" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The move appears to have come without the approval of Kiev, which has voiced suspicions that the mission is a cover for an invasion.</span></div> <div class="wp-volt-gal-caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="wp-volt-gal-caption-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Aug. 22, 2014</span><span class="wp-volt-gal-caption-text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The first trucks of a Russian convoy drive on the main road to Luhansk near the village of Uralo-Kavkaz, Ukraine.</span> <span class="wp-volt-gal-caption-credit" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sergei Grits/AP</span></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For Ukrainian officials, a potential military response ultimately depends on whether the Russian convoy tries to do anything more than distribute aid.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“If we find in the convoy some other equipment, some other equipment that’s not humanitarian aid, then the direction will be different,” military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On Friday evening, Russian state television broadcast images of the trucks pulling up to a loading dock in rebel-held Luhansk. Shirtless men wearing jeans unloaded large white bags that appeared to be filled with grain, beans or flour and moved them into a warehouse.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The original ICRC plan was for the trucks to enter Ukraine, deposit aid supplies and leave immediately by the same route. Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, declined to say whether the convoy would hold to that plan.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry urged international allies to condemn Russia for what Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called a “flagrant violation of international law.”</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In Washington, a Pentagon spokesman, Rear Adm. John Kirby, stopped short of calling the movement an invasion but said “it strains credulity to think that this equipment’s not moving across the border accompanied by Russian forces.”</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kirby called on Russia to withdraw vehicles and personnel and threatened “additional costs and isolation” otherwise. That is a reference to potential further economic sanctions on Russia and diplomatic ostracizing of Moscow, tactics the West has applied for months with little success.</span></div> <br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“They should not be doing this under the guise of a humanitarian convoy,” Kirby said.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin said “explicit delays from the side of Kiev” forced Russia to send the convoy across the border unilaterally. Further delays in getting help to Luhansk residents, many of whom have no water or electricity, would be “unacceptable,” he added.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The latest delays, however, emanated from the ICRC’s concerns for the safety of its workers.</span></div> <div id="U8004045876066JiB" style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Poroshenko had agreed last week to let Russian and European aid into rebel-held portions of the eastern region of Luhansk, but only if ICRC workers presided over the shipments. The ICRC asked for security guarantees, which Ukraine gave — but only for areas under government control.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On Friday morning, ICRC officials told Russia that after a night of heavy shelling in Luhansk, they did not yet have the necessary safety guarantees.</span></div> <div id="U800404587606613H" style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yet the convoy was shrouded in controversy from the start. When Russia first sent the trucks toward Ukraine they did it without specific ICRC authorization, prompting Ukraine and its allies to worry that the shipment was designed as cover for a military invasion.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ukrainian officials refused to let the trucks through a government-controlled border crossing in the Kharkiv region, so the convoy headed for rebel-controlled territory instead.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8em;">The trucks then spent more than a week idling outside the Izvaryne border crossing to Luhansk, which is controlled by pro-Russian rebels, as government ministers tried to hammer out a deal.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Reporters in the area noted the presence of food, water and emergency supplies in the trucks. Some on the scene also reported seeing heavy military vehicles near the convoy on the Russian side of the border.</span><br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last week, Western reporters watched <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraine-border-guards-begin-inspecting-russian-aid-convoy/2014/08/15/27bb612a-2469-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a_story.html" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-decoration: none; zoom: 1;" title="www.washingtonpost.com">a column of Russian armored personnel carriers</a> enter Ukraine while the aid convoy was waiting on the Russian side. Ukraine said its forces subsequently destroyed part of the column, but Russia denied that any of its vehicles had crossed the border or had been attacked.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On Thursday, Russian customs officials cleared the first group of aid trucks into the border zone between Russian and Ukrainian territory, where they were waiting for the go-ahead to enter Ukraine.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">That night, ICRC officials said the first trucks would likely enter Ukraine on Friday.</span></div> <div class="trailer" style="font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <div style="margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">William Branigin, Anne Gearan and Karen DeYoung in Washington and Stephanie Kirchner in Berlin contributed to this report.</span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> </div>

Russia escalates tensions with aid convoy, reported firing of artillery inside Ukraine

MOSCOW —   The conflict between Russia and Ukraine hit dangerous new heights Friday as Russia sent an enormous aid convoy into rebel-held U...

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CONFAB: Tension forces delegates to adjourn after 14 minutes

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ABUJA — THE National Conference, yesterday, held its shortest session since it began about four months ago when it hurriedly adjourned amid tension after sitting for about 14 minutes.</span><br /> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The adjournment was on the heels of a heated atmosphere at the Andrews Otutu Obaseki hall, venue of the plenary following disagreements between core North and Southern/Middle-Belt delegates over the reports and proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Some northern delegates, who had at a press briefing,Tuesday, rejected the draft constitution amendment prepared by the conference leadership, saying they were never part of it, insisting that that they would never support it.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The document formed part of the documents distributed to delegates when they reconvened, Monday, after almost a month break that started on July 14.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This happened on a day that Southern and Middle-Belt led by Chief E.K Clark, Chief Olu Falae, General Ike Nwachukwu and John Dara said there was no hidden agenda in the report, saying it was insulting to say that the delegates were hammering out a third term agenda for President Goodluck Jonathan. They said that the documents contained what all delegates at the conference agreed on.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As the confab meets today to ratify the report, some northern had already written to the Conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi to dissociate themselves from the draft constitution prepared by the leadership of the conference and distributed to delegates, Monday. They said they were shocked and totally surprised at the appearance of the documents; they threatened that they will not be a party to the adoption of the report or any part by voice vote and urge the leadership of the conference to be strictly guided by the Conference Procedure Rules, 2014.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Countering, the Southern and Middle-Belt delegates said those opposing the reports were bent on scuttling the conference and vowed to pass the report today.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We prepared the report with honesty, diligence – Kutigi</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As soon as he came in at 10.35a.m. and commenced plenary at 10. 37a.m., Kutigi told delegates that the reports were prepared by the Secretariat with all honesty and diligence with no hidden agenda. He appealed to them to work together, stressing that as humans they could make mistakes, adding that there was no draft constitution, but mere amendment.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As part of moves to cool frayed nerves, a delegate on the platform of former House of Representatives Forum, Chief Obi Anoliofo moved for adjournment and it was seconded by Mrs. Felicia Sani, a delegate on the platform of Market Women Association.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kutigi urged delegates to study the documents given to them and send their observations to the conference secretariat for collation.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To further  enhance the process of approving the draft report, Kutigi summoned a meeting of leaders of delegation from the geo-political zones to discuss certain critical issues and asked that the leadership of each group should meet with him inside the office of the Deputy Chairman of the conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How reports were prepared</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The chairman said in line with the resolution of the Conference, the reports were prepared to cover constitutional issues based on amendments agreed upon by the delegates; policy issues meant for implementation by the President; and legislative issues earmarked for enactment into laws by the National Assembly.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Justice Kutigi explained that the copy labeled “draft constitution” contained the various alterations and amendments to the 1999 Constitution “proposed by you.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After the brief address, delegates applauded the chairman by clapping for some minutes, signifying their agreement with his explanation and readiness to discuss and approve the draft reports.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Justice Kutigi said all groups and individuals should study the report and diligently write out areas that need to be corrected and submit them to the Conference Secretariat for compilation and presentation to the Conference when delegates reconvene today.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shonibare replaces Olaniwun Ajayi</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Before adjourning the session, Justice Kutigi announced the presence of a new delegate, Supo Shonibare, who replaced Olaniwun Ajayi from the South-West and a minute silence was observed by delegates for late Professor Mohammed Nur Alkali.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Northern delegates write Kutigi</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">However, after the plenary, some Northern delegates wrote Justice Idris Kutigi to dissociate themselves from the draft constitution prepared by the leadership of the conference.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In the letter signed by Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, and former Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Coomasie and erstwhile Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Gen. Jerry Useni, they said: “We call upon the leadership of the conference to discountenance and withdraw the draft constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2014 and the accompanying bills, which have been circulated.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We urge the Conference leadership to table the Draft Conference Report which contains only the resolutions openly and officially sanctioned and adopted by delegates for validation and adoption as provided for under the National Conference Procedure Rules, 2014 and as envisaged in the Work Plan adopted</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“For the avoidance of doubt, we shall not be a party to the adoption of the report or any part thereof by voice vote. We urge the leadership of the Conference to be strictly guided by the Conference Procedure Rules, 2014.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The letter   continued: “You may recall that on June 30, 2014, while making observations on a matter of urgent public interest and national importance which touched on the integrity of conference proceedings, a member drew the attention of delegates to series of publications in the press alleging that the leadership of Conference was lobbying members to adopt a new constitution. Arising from debates on the matter by members and explanations from members concerned, the Leadership assured delegates that it knew nothing about the existence of any constitution or a hidden agenda, whereupon, Conference resolved to close the matter.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“To our utter shock, astonishment and surprise, the Secretary of the Conference distributed an assortment of documents including one entitled “Report of the National Conference, 2014 DRAFT CONSTITUION” which is also accompanied by draft Bills to promulgate into law the “CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 2014”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We hereby categorically state that our members are not party or privy to any decision and certainly did not participate in any processes or proceedings to draft a constitution or Bills. Quite on the contrary, we have, in no uncertain terms, expressed our objections to any such project under any guise. Moreover and to the best of our knowledge, we are unaware that the Conference has, whether at plenary or committee stages of its work, taken a decision to draw up a draft constitution, authorized or tasked any of its Committees, delegates or the Conference Secretariat to do so.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“In view of this, we hereby dissociate ourselves from and totally reject the Draft Constitution already circulated. Furthermore we wish to formally notify you that our members condemn the brazen attempt by the Leadership of the Conference to impose on us a Draft Constitution whose ownership and knowledge the leadership has denied and which is not attributed to any person. It is a document whose authorship we absolutely have no hand in. In our view, the draft constitution circulated is a document of dubious and questionable origins.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“By our assessment, the content of the Draft Constitution is replete with extraneous matters and issues that bear no relations to the resolutions adopted by Conference and many of which are at variance or in conflict with Conference resolution or in respect of which no decision has been taken.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/confab-tension-forces-delegates-adjourn-14-minutes/#sthash.wdTnOtJX.dpuf</span><br /> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“For sample particulars of some extraneous issues, Inconsistencies and unsubstantiated inclusions and exclusions contained in the Draft Constitution refer to Sections 2(A) at page 12; 8(1) (h), 8 (2) a – h at page 15; new section 9(2) a – c at page 19; new section 162(1A) and 5(A) at page 143; and the deletion of section 315 at page 266. These various provisions pertain to issues of State Constitution, boundary adjustment, referendum to adopt Constitution, funding for Local Government Areas, and deletion of Land Use Act and the abrogation of all existing laws, which the section has entrenched and saved respectively.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We are opposed to the draft being considered by the Conference for the following additional reasons:   The National Conference comprises unelected members, its composition has violated universal democratic principles and is, hence, unrepresentative. As a consequence, delegates cannot claim to be speaking for the people.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Having been established by executive fiat, the Conference lacks the necessary democratic credential, legitimacy or legal or constitutional basis or mandate to assume the exercise of the sovereign will of the people or purport to behave as a Constituent Assembly.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It is incontrovertible that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 contains, very clear provisions, under section 9, and has spelt out explicit rules to govern specific steps to follow to alter its provisions, including the adoption of an entirely new Constitution if deemed desirable.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The procedure for any alteration does not envisage or recognize  “referendum” as a mechanism for bringing about any change to the existing Constitution or the adoption of a new one.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moreover, for any alteration to the constitution to be legitimate or credible, it must be validated by the concurrent adoption of the National Assembly and the resolution in support of 2/3 (24) of the Houses of Assembly of the States where this is assented to by the President.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It would be a ridiculous perversion of all known constitutional and legal norms for the Conference to purport to consider or adopt the Draft Constitution without being clothed with necessary mandate and in total disregard or violation of the existing legal and constitutional order.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It excites our curiosity to wonder why anybody would seek to adopt a purported Constitution whose effective date is 2014 during the currency of incumbent elected officials in clear violation of the existing constitution under which they have been elected and which they have sworn to abide by, uphold, and defend This would amount to a blatant subversion of the existing constitutional and legal order.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“As proposed, the draft Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2014 has negated or preempted and dispensed with all due processes related to, for instance, the creation of new States by inserting those proposed without meeting any of the objective criteria set by conference and in the absence of proper boundary demarcation and/or obtaining the consent of affected communities. This is without prejudice to acknowledging the fact that Conference has adopted resolutions for the creation of the named States, which we support in principle.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <br /></div>

CONFAB: Tension forces delegates to adjourn after 14 minutes

ABUJA — THE National Conference, yesterday, held its shortest session since it began about four months ago when it hurriedly adjourned amid...

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