Ukraine's prime minister has accused Russia of backing separatist demonstrations, including the seizure of government buildings Sunday in three eastern Ukrainian cities.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk told a Cabinet meeting Monday that Russia is behind the unrest that rose up in the eastern cities of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv. He said the demonstrations are clearly part of a plan to destabilize the situation and allow "foreign" troops to cross the border and seize Ukrainian territory.
Mr. Yatsenyuk said Russian troops remain stationed within 30 kilometers of Ukraine.
Reuters news agency reports Ukraine's acting president, Oleksandr Turchnyov, also blamed Russia for Sunday's demonstrations and accused them of "playing out the Crimean scenario." He vowed anti-terrorist measures will be carried out.