Internal Security News

• The battle for control of the eastern Ukrainian town of Sloviansk and its suburbs intensified on June 8-9, with civilians caught in heavy crossfire between government forces and pro-Russian separatists.
   
• The Defense Minister of Ukraine said that the armed conflict had started to abate in the eastern regions of Ukraine.
   
• (Interfax Ukraine) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that the fighting in eastern Ukraine must be stopped this coming week. 
   
• The administration of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic said it does not trust the statements made by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko that military action in southeastern Ukraine should be halted this week.
   
• (Interfax Ukraine) The head of the Donetsk Regional Administration stated that more than 200 people, who are citizens of various countries, are currently held by unlawful armed groups in Donetsk region.
   
• (Interfax Ukraine) The governor of Donetsk said that Poroshenko is unlikely to visit Donbas any time soon because it would be "difficult" to guarantee him security there.
   
• Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov stated that one hundred percent of the combat and patrol units of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry will be involved in the operation in eastern Ukraine.
   
• (ITAR-TASS) The ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’ declared that Luhansk’s international airport was to suspend all regular passenger and chartered flights due to “the intensified activities of the Ukrainian military forces in the Luhansk People’s Republic.”

Diplomacy News

• (RIA Novosti) A representative of the self-proclaimed ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ told RIA Novosti that the international community should tackle the issue of prisoners detained in Ukraine during clashes between independence supporters and the Ukrainian army, and Russia should be a mediator.
   
• (RIA Novosti) Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was absolutely confidential.
• (Interfax Ukraine) European Council President Herman Van Rompuy stated that "The European Union will be at Ukraine's side and remains ready to work with those that share these objectives of democracy, prosperity and stability."
   
• The leadership of the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ claimed that separatists had detained a number of foreign mercenaries fighting with Ukrainian troops, including Polish and Czech fighters. The Polish government denied these claims. 
   
• (RIA Novosti) Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that he had discussed the situation of Ukrainian refugees with President Vladimir Putin.
   
• (Interfax Ukraine) The European Commission confirmed that a fresh round of talks on energy security, initiated by the European Commission, between European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan, will be held in Brussels on June 9.
   
• (Interfax Ukraine) NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he is confident that Petro Poroshenko's assuming the post of the new president of Ukraine will facilitate the speedy settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
   
• (RIA Novosti) The regional government of Russia’s Rostov region claimed that more than 7,300 Ukrainian citizens have fled to Rostov on June 8-9.
   
• (ITAR-TASS) Russian reporters who were held by Ukrainian security forces alleged that they were kept in “intolerable conditions.” Russian media reported that the journalists were detained by “Right Sector or by foreign mercenaries.” 
   
• (ITAR-TASS) A survey conducted by Russia Public Opinion Research Center WCIOM concluded that over 40% Russians say Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko represents the interests of the US, EU and Ukraine’s big businesses.

Constitutional Reform News

• (Interfax Ukraine) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in his inaugural address that Ukraine has been and will remain a unitary state. "Dreams about federalization have no grounds in Ukraine."

International Observation Missions News

• (ITAR-TASS) Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrei Deshchitsa sent a letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asking to extend the mandate of the human rights monitoring mission for another three months.
   
• (RIA Novosti) Swiss politician Heidi Tagliavini was appointed as the OSCE’s new envoy to Ukraine by OSCE Chairman and Swiss President Didier Burkhalter at the request of the new Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Russia’s Foreign Ministry stated that Tagliavini should actively engage in reconciliation efforts and promote dialogue.
   
• A leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic stated that OSCE monitors taken prisoner by armed groups in Donetsk region have been moved to Severodonetsk in the neighboring region of Luhansk.

Governance News 

• Petro Poroshenko was sworn in as President of Ukraine on June 7. 
   
• (Interfax Ukraine) During his inaugural address, Poroshenko stated that "There can't be any compromise with anyone regarding Crimea, the European choice, and the governance system.”
   
• (Interfax Ukraine) Poroshenko stated that Ukraine should sign an association agreement with the European Union as soon as possible. “My pen is in my hands,” he said. 
   
• (Interfax Ukraine) The day before Poroshenko’s inauguration, interim president Turchynov repealed 82 presidential decrees signed by former Ukrainian presidents and put into effect a National Security and Defense Council resolution on repealing 59 of its previous resolutions.
   
• The First Vice Premier of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic stated that he does not see chances for a direct dialogue with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

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