Ukraine is becoming increasingly divided with protesters in Kyiv now demanding that the government get rid of pro-Russian activists causing chaos in the east.<br /><br />The country’s interim leaders have been roundly criticised by the Maidan crowd (Independence Square) for not acting decisively in Donetsk and other cities where separatists have seized buildings. <br /><br />Ukrainian paratroopers have been seen taking part in military exercises near Slovyansk – one of several cities where a government ultimatum to hand over weapons was firmly ignored. <br /><br />Together with a belief that Russia is stirring up the unrest, pressure is increasing on the government to act. <br /><br />However calls by interim president Oleksandr Turchynov for UN peacekeepers to be deployed while a referendum on the future of eastern Ukraine be held have been dismissed by activists in Slovyansk.<br /><br />In Dontesk those holed up in the administrative headquarters of the province which forms the heartland of Ukraine’s heavy industry have sought Moscow’s protection if they are attacked.<br /><br />It is a move which has upped the rhetoric between Washington and Moscow while they both claim to want a diplomatic solution.<br /><br />Our correspondent Sergio Cantone who is in Donetsk said:<br /><br />“The majority of the people of this area feel they are hostages to fortune . Almost all of the official buildings of the region are being occupied by an active and organised minority, whilst a silent majority seems to be living passively in parallel.”
