Ukraine pro-Russian protesters appeal to Moscow for help

Pro-Russian protesters in Ukraine’s eastern city of Slavyansk have appealed for Moscow’s help against Ukrainian government forces.

The Kremlin responded to the request on Monday, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin is “very worried” about the current turmoil in the eastern parts of Ukraine.

“Unfortunately, there’s a great many such appeals coming from the Eastern Ukrainian regions addressed directly to Putin to intervene in this or that form. The president is watching the developments…with great concern,” said Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov.

Pro-Russian activists in the flashpoint city of Slavyansk in Donetsk Province have asked Putin to intervene and defend them against Kiev forces.

New Western-backed leaders of Ukraine have, in turn, appealed for international help. Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov urged the United Nations to send peacekeepers to the country’s volatile regions.

The situation in Ukraine’s eastern provinces remains tense. Pro-Russian activists have taken control of several state buildings in two other cities in Donetsk.

The City Hall and the regional Interior Ministry headquarters in the city of Horlivka are under the pro-Russians’ control. The city’s police have also defected to the people, pledging their allegiance to the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk.

Meanwhile, Activists in Zhdanovka have reportedly seized the city council.

Kiev had given the demonstrators until Monday morning to lay down their arms and evacuate the occupied buildings in the country’s eastern parts.

However, reports coming out of the restive regions suggest that the activists are not showing any signs of compliance with the deadline.