Kiev

The self-proclaimed "Luhansk People's Republic" in the east of Ukraine has declared martial law, the republic's press office announced Thursday.

A full mobilization was declared for men between 28 and 45 years of age, according to Russia's ITAR-TASS agency.

At least 9 Ukrainian soldiers die in clashes in east

DONETSK, LUGANSK -- At least nin Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 20 others were wounded last night in two attacks of pro-Russian rebels in the east of Ukraine.

A total of 127 people have died in Ukraine's east and south as a result of violence over the past weeks, a United Nations official reported Wednesday.

"More arms, and more arms" are being used in the standoff, as Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic was quoted by the Washington Post as telling the UN Security Council. 

The death toll from Tuesday's train collision near Moscow has climbed to 6, while 25 people remain in hospital.

A freight train derailed and collided into a passenger train between Naro-Fominsk and Bekasovo, on the Kiev-bound railway, around 1 pm Moscow time Tuesday. Most of the victims were citizens of Moldova, RIA Novosti revealed. Among the injured were 3 children.

Pentagon officials have announced the USS Vella Gulf, a US warship, will reach the Black Sea later this week as part of maneuvers showing support for Ukraine.

Navy Rear Admiral John Kirby was quoted by the Huffington Post as saying that the US also aimed to reassure its European allies that Washington is committed to their security, as tensions between Kiev and Moscow remain.

At least five people have died after two trains collided south-west of the Russian capital Moscow, Tuesday.

Five people died and 15 were injured as a freight train hit a passenger train, according to a preliminary report from Russia's Interior Ministry.

It is the stable situation in Ukraine that the security of Europe's gas deliveries will depend on, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday.

“If the Ukrainian market is stable and if Ukrainians fulfill all of their obligations, Europe will receive what it is entitled to in full,” Medvedev told Bloomberg TV.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered that 40 000 soldiers pull back from the border with Ukraine, the country's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported.

Ukraine may sign the economic part of the EU association agreement on June 27, said EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Stefan Fule in Kiev. 

During his visit to the Ukrainian capital, he confirmed the European Parliament and the European Commission would support this step, reports Bulgaria's public broadcaster BNT. 

KRAGUJEVAC - Miracle Boy, a play performed by China's Shanghai Puppet Theatre, won the Golden Spark Grand Prix for best play at the 16th International puppet theatre festival in Kragujevac.

The second prize went to the play Dwarf Long Nose by the Sliven State Puppet Theatre (Bulgaria), while Straw Lark by the Moscow Small Puppet Theatre (Russia) won the third prize.