Ukraine Crisis News Updates -- September 24, 2014

Ukraine Crisis: Rebels Declare Early Poll Date -- BBC

Rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine say they will hold elections on 2 November, in an apparent show of defiance towards the government in Kiev.

Although Ukraine is holding parliamentary polls a week before, it has offered the pro-Russian rebels a vote on self-rule in December.

A shaky ceasefire has held since 5 September and the two sides have since agreed to set up a buffer zone.

UN officials say 3,245 people have been killed since fighting began in April.

That number does not include the 298 victims of the Malaysia Airlines plane downed over eastern Ukraine on 17 July.

Read more ....

Ukraine Crisis News Updates -- September 24, 2014

Ukraine rebels plan votes in blow to Poroshenko truce -- AFP
Ukraine rebels plan November elections -- SKY News
Separatists in Ukraine to hold separate parliamentary vote -- FOX News/EFE

UN: More Than 3,500 Killed in Ukraine Conflict -- AP
Ukraine conflict death toll soars past 3,000: UN -- AFP
Death toll of Ukrainian conflict exceeds 3,500 - UN -- Interfax Ukraine
Death toll from Ukraine conflict exceeds 3,500 people — UN -- ITAR-TASS

Ukraine peace efforts stall despite lull in fighting -- AFP
Cease-fire in Ukraine violated in Donetsk -- AP
Cease-Fire in Eastern Ukraine Violated -- AP
Ceasefire in Ukraine breached -- Independent.ie
Ukraine Urges Rebels to Stop Shelling, Withdraw Artillery -- Bloomberg Businesweek
Ukraine: Cease-fire being upheld on both sides; rebels say they're withdrawing heavy artillery -- AP
Ukraine Rebels Start Pullback Under Shaky Peace Deal -- AFP
LPR Head: Kiev Troops, Militia Implementing Deal to Withdraw Heavy Weaponry -- RIA Novosti
The Woman Running Supplies to the Ukraine Front Lines -- Mashable

Ukraine crisis: Nato sees 'significant' Russian troop pullback -- BBC
NATO: Russia Has Withdrawn Many Troops From Ukraine -- WSJ
NATO sees significant pullback of Russian troops from Ukraine -- Reuters

Poroshenko orders defense chief to send military envoys to Donbass -- ITAR-TASS
Poroshenko declares war in east Ukraine “impossible to win by military means alone” -- Euronews
Ukraine's Poroshenko Secures Less US Aid Than Hoped -- VOA

Russia calls for international probe into Ukraine burials with signs of execution, incl decapitated bodies -- RT
Russian NGOs demand investigation of massacres near Ukraine's Donetsk -- ITAR-TASS
Lawlessness in eastern Ukraine -- Deutsche Welle

Putin warns Ukraine against implementing EU deal -letter -- Reuters
EU Set for New Clash with Russia over Ukraine Pact -- WSJ
Europe wants Russia, Ukraine to sign interim gas deal in Berlin -- Reuters
Ukraine doubts compromise will be achieved at trilateral talks on gas in Berlin -- Kyiv Post
Russian Envoy Sees End to Ukraine Crisis -- AP

Is Ukraine another bottomless pit? -- Desmond Lachman, The Hill
Poroshenko, where is Ukraine now? -- Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya