Use of force in Ukraine leads to civil war: Russia

Moscow says Kiev’s use of force against pro-Russian protesters in the eastern parts of Ukraine can lead to a civil war.

According to Press TV, Russia’s envoy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) made the remarks on Monday, after an OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna over the situation in Ukraine.

Andrei Kelin said, “The (Ukrainian) acting minister of the interior has said that armed forces will be used against those who are in the manifestations and also there are units being organized of paramilitary people who will be given weapons and who will be under command of the officers.”

Kelin added, “It will be, as we heard, nearly 12,000 of these people. This is dangerous.”

He also noted, “We strongly believe it might lead to a civil war. We are very worried.”

The situation is escalating in eastern Ukraine amid concerns over an impending military action by Kiev against pro-Russian activists.

The Ukrainian government had given the protesters until Monday morning to lay down their arms and evacuate the occupied buildings in the country’s eastern provinces.