The Kremlin said yesterday it was receiving "thousands" of pleas for help from Ukraine, warning that it could not control pro-Russian separatists in the country and now required help to resolve the worsening violence.

As Russian troops continued to conduct exercises near the Ukrainian border and the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, demanded the Russian government do more to defuse the situation or risk further economic sanctions, a Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, was quoted as saying that Russia had "lost its influence" over separatists in the region.

Speaking in Moscow yesterday, Mr Peskov said: "People are calling in despair, asking for help. The overwhelming majority demand Russian help. All these calls are reported to [President] Vladimir Putin."

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He made clear that the Russian government blamed the West for the worsening situation, while stressing the need for "dialogue" towards a peaceful resolution. "Kiev and its Western sponsors are practically provoking the bloodshed and bear direct responsibility for it. Those who recognise this junta as a legal power become an accomplice to this crime."

Shape Created with Sketch. Clashes in eastern Ukraine Show all 126 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Clashes in eastern Ukraine 1/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukraine 'Azov' batallion soldiers capture pro-Russian activists after taking control over city of Mariupol in Donetsk EPA 2/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Pro-Ukrainian supporters stand in front of the Russian embassy during a protest in Kiev EPA 3/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Activists of Maidan self-defense and Right Sector ultra-nationalist organization attend a commemoration ceremony devoted for Ukrainian soldiers killed when a military cargo plane was shot down EPA 4/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An armed Ukrainian soldier looks around while guarding at a checkpoint not far of Slavyansk 5/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk An Orthodox priest holds a service during a funeral ceremony in front of the local administration building in Kramatorsk for Viktor Gagulin, a Pro-Russian supporter, who was killed during an anti terrorist operation, Kramatorsk 6/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Awaiting of pro-Russian separatists is ongoing at the government building seized by Russian supporters in Donetsk 7/126 Ukraine crisis: Odessa A woman bearing flowers during the rally to mourn for victims of clashes in Odessa, outside Moscow's Kremlin AP 8/126 Ukraine crisis: Odessa Pro-Russian activists mourn during the funeral of Vyacheslav Markin, the deputy of the city regional council and leader of the pro-Russian opposition, who perished during a clash between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian activists AFP 9/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian militants escort a blindfolded man outside the regional state building they seized AFP 10/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian Cossacks eat a dinner outside the regional administration building in Donetsk AP 11/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers stand guard at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk 12/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk At least three people were killed and several were injured in clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in the eastern city of Slavyansk 13/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian military helicopter lands near a Ukrainian checkpoint near the town of Slavyansk 14/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian military helicopter lands at a checkpoint which troops seized in the early morning in the village of Andreevka, 7 kms from the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 15/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian soldier looks on at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk 16/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Soldiers guard a checkpoint 25 kilometers from the city of Slavyansk. Militants in Slavyansk are keeping dozens of hostages, including seven European military observers, who were detained in the city while on a verification mission under the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) 17/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A masked Ukrainian soldier takes position at a checkpoint which troops seized in the early morning in the village of Andreevka, 7 kms from the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk. Ukraine's military lost two helicopters and two servicemen in a deadly offensive launched just before dawn against pro-Russian rebels holding the flashpoint town of Slavyansk 18/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters try to destroy a Ukraine national flag outside the regional prosecutor's office in Donetsk 19/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian separatists seize the Prosecution Office in Donetsk 20/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers stand near a tank at a checkpoint near the south eastern Ukrainain city of Slavyansk 21/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers guard a roadblock along the highway near Slavyansk 22/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Armed pro-Russian militia attack the regional police building of Lugansk. Fresh violence erupted in eastern Ukraine after Moscow hit back at "Iron Curtain"-style Western sanctions AFP 23/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A resident walks through a barricaded area around the security services building. The pro-Russian activists have taken control of the state administration building and the police station Getty 24/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A pro-Russian activist stands guard outside the security services building. The area around the building has become a barricaded camp occupied by the pro-Russians Getty 25/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An armed pro-Russian activist stands guard at a checkpoint. Fresh violence has erupted in eastern Ukraine as thousands of pro-Russian protesters stormed key buildings AFP 26/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Members of the protest group 'Self Defense of Maidan' stand on a barricade as they prepare to stop ultra-nationalist activists from marching through Independence Square in Kiev EPA 27/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Pro-Ukrainian activists draw a giant map of Ukraine in front of the Parliament building, marking territories which could be lost as a result of the armed separatists' activity EPA 28/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian activist gets medical attention after a clash with pro-government activists during a rally and march Donetsk. Several people were injured when the pro-Russian activists attacked a pro-government march Getty 29/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists clash with pro-government supporters during a rally and march in Donetsk. Several people were injured when the pro-Russian activists attacked a pro-government march Getty 30/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester walks in front of riot police during a pro-Ukraine rally in the eastern city of Donetsk. Several people were wounded when what appeared to be stun grenades exploded during a rally in support of Ukrainian unity in the eastern, separatist-held city Reuters 31/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Ukrainian supporters attending a rally in Donetsk. Around 1,000 people took part in a march for supporting of a Single Ukraine and were attacked by pro-Russian protesters EPA 32/126 Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russian armed man poses for a photograph with a child as he stands guard outside a regional administration building seized in the night by pro-Russian separatists AFP/Getty 33/126 Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russian armed man holds his weapon in front of the seized town administration building in Kostyantynivka Armed pro-Russian separatists who took control of the police headquarters in the east Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka have also seized the town administration building 34/126 Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russia armed man aims his rifle in front of the seized city council building in Kostyantynivka 35/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian Ukrainian presidential candidate Oleg Tsarev (2-L) of the 'Party of Regions' party is accompanied by security personnel as he arrives to speak to journalists during a press briefing in Slaviansk 36/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk A man reacts near a coffin containing the body of man killed in a gunfight, during a funeral ceremony in Slaviansk 37/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Foreign military observers are escorted by pro-Russian militants to attend a press conference in city hall, of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine AP 38/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk An armed pro-Russian protestor gestures as he stands guard on a checkpoint near Krasnyi Liman, in the Donetsk area 39/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A Ukrainian soldier smokes his cigarette in front of an armoured personnel carrier at a checkpoint in the village of Malinivka, east of Slaviansk 40/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russian activists walk past a anti-US and EU banner near the occupied Security Service building in Lugansk 41/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A Ukrainian security force officer is deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slaviansk 42/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Ukrainian security force officers are deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slaviansk 43/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian masked gunman seen during his duty on a street in the center of Slovyansk 44/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian masked gunman patrols a street in the center of Slovyansk 45/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters attend their rally near of a barricade in front of the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk 46/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk An woman holds a Russian flag as she sits next to an elderly women inside a compound created by barricades which surround the Donetsk Regional Administration Building in Donetsk 47/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Pro Russia militia carry a casket bearing Pavel Pavelko (42) one of three pro Russia militiamen killed in a shooting by unknown gunmen at a checkpoint, during his funeral procession in Alexandrovska village near Slovyansk 48/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Supporters of the Communist Party of Ukraine meet near the monument of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin in Lugansk 49/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk A masked man in military fatigues brings a blindfolded Irma Krat, arrested and held by pro-Russian protestors before her meeting with journalists near of occupied police station in Slaviansk 50/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian activists are demanding broader autonomy from Kiev and closer ties to Russia and continue to occupy government, police and other administrative buildings in eastern Ukrainian cities, in defiance of an ultimatum by the Ukrainian government to lay down their weapons 51/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine had agreed on steps to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine during talks in Geneva, Switzerland 52/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Valeriy Bolotov (R) new people's governor of Luhansk, speaks to the media after he was pronounced the "people's governor" inside the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk 53/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk An orthodox priest sprinkles a holy water over a group of people during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 54/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Bodies of men killed in a gunfight are seen in coffins during a funeral ceremony in Slaviansk 55/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk An activist shows ammunition near burned out vehicles in front of a pro-Russian blockade near Slaviansk 56/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A masked man guards the entrance of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists during a rally in Lugansk 57/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Soviet army veteran Yuri stands outside a regional government building in Donetsk 58/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Defiant Pro-Russian supporters react during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 59/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A tearful pro-Russian supportes during the singing of the Russian national hymn during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 60/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A Soviet flag is seen on a barricade outside a regional government building in Donetsk 61/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian armed men walk past activists hanging up a "Donetsk Republic" flag outside the mayor's office in Slaviansk 62/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A man in military fatigues hugs a woman and a child during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 63/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Armed Pro-Russian man poses for a photo with local children next to barricades in front of city hall in Slovyansk AFP 64/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk The seperatist leader of the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, holds up the pictures of two pro-Russia militants killed the day before in a gunbattle with unidentified attackers, as he holds a press conference in Slavyansk AFP 65/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukrainian Christian worshipers carry crosses as they march around the regional government building in Donetsk Reuters 66/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk People rest under a tent next to barricades at the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk Reuters 67/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A masked man holds a gun as as other armed people stand near tanks in Slaviansk 68/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An Orthodox icon is displayed on barricades in front of a city parliament in Slovyansk 69/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Men wearing military fatigues ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 70/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Armed men wearing military fatigues gather by Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) as they stand guard outside the regional state building seized by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 71/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Masked pro-Russian gunmen attack a photojournalist near combat vehicles flying a Russian flag, in downtown of Slovyansk 72/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Men wearing military fatigues sit by a Russian flag and a white flag reading "People's volunteer corps of Donetsk" as they ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 73/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk Ukrainian soldiers clash with pro-Russia protesters in a field near Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine 74/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk Ukrainian General Genady Krutov (C) talks to journalists in front of an Ukrainian airbase in Kramatorsk 75/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk A woman wearing a national flower crown looks back as she attends a pro-Ukrainian rally in Luhansk 76/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Ukrainian soldiers stand guard near a military helicopter, near the Izyum city in Kharkiv area 77/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Pro-Russia activists throw stones as they storm the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk 78/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Pro-Russian men storm a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka 79/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Masked pro-Russian men attack British photojournalist Frederick Paxton during the mass storming of a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka 80/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Ukrainian police try to stop pro-Russia activists from storming the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk 81/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian fighter guards a barricade bearing the Russian flag on the road leading to the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk AFP/Getty 82/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Armed pro-Russia protesters prepare for the battle with Ukrainian police special team on the outskirts the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 83/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russian activists escort a man (unseen) who they say is a provocateur outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk 84/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russia supporters surround a man who they say is a provocateur (C) outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk 85/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Armed pro-Russian supporters carry an Eastern Orthodox icon of Mary Magdalene outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk 86/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Pro-Russian activists occupy the police station carrying riot shields as people watch on, in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk 87/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk, near Slovyansk The interior minister overnight reported an attack on a police in the city of Kramatorsk, close to the city of Slovyansk 88/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian gunman stands guard at a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk 89/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian gunman carries a mattress in a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk 90/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A pro-Russian supporter flashes the 'V'-sign during a rally in front of the security service building occupied by Pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 91/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian supporters clash with supporters of Single Ukraine in downtown Kharkiv 92/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk An effigy depicting Ukrainian politician and presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko is hanged on a advertisement board in front of the offices of the SBU state security service in Luhansk 93/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Pro-Russian protesters set a barbed wire on a barricade outside the SBU state security service in Luhansk 94/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk A masked pro-Russian activist stands in front of barricades at the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk 95/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Pro-Russian separatists reinforced barricades around the state security building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk and called on President Vladimir Putin for help after the government warned it could use force to restore order 96/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A Pro-Russian activist wears a hand-made mask behind a barricade in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk 97/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters hold placards reading 'Freedom for detained heroes!' during a rally near the district court in Kharkiv 98/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Policemen leave their position from the regional administration building in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv 99/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally near the district court in Kharkiv. Meanwhile, Russia rejected accusations that it was massing troops for an invasion of Ukraine and accused the West of making 'baseless' claims and waging an anti-Russian campaign 100/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv A view of the interior of the Kharkiv regional state administration chancery after being destroyed by pro-Russian protesters. Ukrainian policemen were injured as a result of an operation to free the administration building from pro-Russian separatists. Ukraine's acting president said on April 8 he would treat Russian separatists who have seized buildings in the east of the country as "terrorists" who will be prosecuted with the full force of the law 101/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters throw stones at an Interior Ministry bus near the regional administration building in Kharkiv. Ukrainian police cleared pro-Moscow protesters from a regional administration building in a lightning night-time operation, but others held out in two more eastern cities in what Kiev says is a Russian-led plan to dismember the country. Shots were fired, a grenade thrown and 70 people detained as officers ended the occupation in the city of Kharkiv during an 18 minute "anti-terrorism" action 102/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Armed men in masks, representing Ukrainian special forces, stand guard outside the regional administration building in Kharkiv 103/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters burn tires near of a regional administration building after police cleared it in Kharkiv. Protesters are demanding a referendum on the status of the Kharkiv region, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea 104/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian activists hold red flags with the communist hammer and sickle and the soviet "USSR" initals during a rally at the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv 105/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters (L) clash with activists (R) supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine as Interior Ministry members (C) attempt to break them apart during rallies in the eastern city of Kharkiv 106/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters and police officers surround a group of around fifteen ultra-nationalist Right Sector group members (C) during a rally in Kharkiv. Several hundred pro-Russian protesters surrounded the group of ultra-nationalists and forced them to march down a steep hill on their knees in what appeared to be a humiliation ritual that drew no police response during the rally in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv 107/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester holds a placard bearing a crossed out "Nato" during a rally in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk 108/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters wave Russian flags during their rally in downtown Donetsk 109/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists guard a barricade set at the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk 110/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukraine's embattled prime minister accused Russia of trying to "dismember" his country by plotting seizures of government buildings in eastern regions that are seeking to break away from Kiev 111/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists outside the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk 112/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Protesters are calling for former President Yanukovych to return to Ukraine and to hold a referendum on the status of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea 113/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters stand next to a barricade in front of the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk. According to reports, pro-Russian demonstrators stormed the administration building in Donetsk 114/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Protesters set up a barricade inside an occupied regional administration building in Donetsk 115/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russia protester sets on fire an effigy depicting Stepan Bandera, one of the founders of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, during a rally in Donetsk 116/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian masked activist waves a Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, where a large group of people surged into the provincial government building and smashed windows. A gathering of several hundred, many of them waving Russian flags, then listened to speeches delivered from a balcony emblazoned with a banner reading a "Donetsk Republic" 117/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists hold a huge Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine AP 118/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists hold a rally in front of Ukraine's regional security service of Ukraine in Lugansk Getty Images 119/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building Getty Images 120/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists evacuate a wounded following clashes with anti-riot forces after storming the Regional Security Service of Ukraine Getty Images 121/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters clash with police as they try to occupy a regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine EPA 122/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Around 100 pro-Russian protesters stormed the regional government building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk Reuters 123/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk People clash with police at the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine AP 124/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally in Odessa, Ukraine EPA 125/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester waves a Russian flag behind policemen near the regional government building in Donetsk Reuters 126/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk Getty Images 1/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukraine 'Azov' batallion soldiers capture pro-Russian activists after taking control over city of Mariupol in Donetsk EPA 2/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Pro-Ukrainian supporters stand in front of the Russian embassy during a protest in Kiev EPA 3/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Activists of Maidan self-defense and Right Sector ultra-nationalist organization attend a commemoration ceremony devoted for Ukrainian soldiers killed when a military cargo plane was shot down EPA 4/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An armed Ukrainian soldier looks around while guarding at a checkpoint not far of Slavyansk 5/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk An Orthodox priest holds a service during a funeral ceremony in front of the local administration building in Kramatorsk for Viktor Gagulin, a Pro-Russian supporter, who was killed during an anti terrorist operation, Kramatorsk 6/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Awaiting of pro-Russian separatists is ongoing at the government building seized by Russian supporters in Donetsk 7/126 Ukraine crisis: Odessa A woman bearing flowers during the rally to mourn for victims of clashes in Odessa, outside Moscow's Kremlin AP 8/126 Ukraine crisis: Odessa Pro-Russian activists mourn during the funeral of Vyacheslav Markin, the deputy of the city regional council and leader of the pro-Russian opposition, who perished during a clash between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian activists AFP 9/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian militants escort a blindfolded man outside the regional state building they seized AFP 10/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian Cossacks eat a dinner outside the regional administration building in Donetsk AP 11/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers stand guard at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk 12/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk At least three people were killed and several were injured in clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in the eastern city of Slavyansk 13/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian military helicopter lands near a Ukrainian checkpoint near the town of Slavyansk 14/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian military helicopter lands at a checkpoint which troops seized in the early morning in the village of Andreevka, 7 kms from the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 15/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian soldier looks on at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk 16/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Soldiers guard a checkpoint 25 kilometers from the city of Slavyansk. Militants in Slavyansk are keeping dozens of hostages, including seven European military observers, who were detained in the city while on a verification mission under the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) 17/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A masked Ukrainian soldier takes position at a checkpoint which troops seized in the early morning in the village of Andreevka, 7 kms from the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk. Ukraine's military lost two helicopters and two servicemen in a deadly offensive launched just before dawn against pro-Russian rebels holding the flashpoint town of Slavyansk 18/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters try to destroy a Ukraine national flag outside the regional prosecutor's office in Donetsk 19/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian separatists seize the Prosecution Office in Donetsk 20/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers stand near a tank at a checkpoint near the south eastern Ukrainain city of Slavyansk 21/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers guard a roadblock along the highway near Slavyansk 22/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Armed pro-Russian militia attack the regional police building of Lugansk. Fresh violence erupted in eastern Ukraine after Moscow hit back at "Iron Curtain"-style Western sanctions AFP 23/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A resident walks through a barricaded area around the security services building. The pro-Russian activists have taken control of the state administration building and the police station Getty 24/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A pro-Russian activist stands guard outside the security services building. The area around the building has become a barricaded camp occupied by the pro-Russians Getty 25/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An armed pro-Russian activist stands guard at a checkpoint. Fresh violence has erupted in eastern Ukraine as thousands of pro-Russian protesters stormed key buildings AFP 26/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Members of the protest group 'Self Defense of Maidan' stand on a barricade as they prepare to stop ultra-nationalist activists from marching through Independence Square in Kiev EPA 27/126 Ukraine crisis: Kiev Pro-Ukrainian activists draw a giant map of Ukraine in front of the Parliament building, marking territories which could be lost as a result of the armed separatists' activity EPA 28/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian activist gets medical attention after a clash with pro-government activists during a rally and march Donetsk. Several people were injured when the pro-Russian activists attacked a pro-government march Getty 29/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists clash with pro-government supporters during a rally and march in Donetsk. Several people were injured when the pro-Russian activists attacked a pro-government march Getty 30/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester walks in front of riot police during a pro-Ukraine rally in the eastern city of Donetsk. Several people were wounded when what appeared to be stun grenades exploded during a rally in support of Ukrainian unity in the eastern, separatist-held city Reuters 31/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Ukrainian supporters attending a rally in Donetsk. Around 1,000 people took part in a march for supporting of a Single Ukraine and were attacked by pro-Russian protesters EPA 32/126 Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russian armed man poses for a photograph with a child as he stands guard outside a regional administration building seized in the night by pro-Russian separatists AFP/Getty 33/126 Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russian armed man holds his weapon in front of the seized town administration building in Kostyantynivka Armed pro-Russian separatists who took control of the police headquarters in the east Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka have also seized the town administration building 34/126 Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russia armed man aims his rifle in front of the seized city council building in Kostyantynivka 35/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian Ukrainian presidential candidate Oleg Tsarev (2-L) of the 'Party of Regions' party is accompanied by security personnel as he arrives to speak to journalists during a press briefing in Slaviansk 36/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk A man reacts near a coffin containing the body of man killed in a gunfight, during a funeral ceremony in Slaviansk 37/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Foreign military observers are escorted by pro-Russian militants to attend a press conference in city hall, of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine AP 38/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk An armed pro-Russian protestor gestures as he stands guard on a checkpoint near Krasnyi Liman, in the Donetsk area 39/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A Ukrainian soldier smokes his cigarette in front of an armoured personnel carrier at a checkpoint in the village of Malinivka, east of Slaviansk 40/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russian activists walk past a anti-US and EU banner near the occupied Security Service building in Lugansk 41/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A Ukrainian security force officer is deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slaviansk 42/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Ukrainian security force officers are deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slaviansk 43/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian masked gunman seen during his duty on a street in the center of Slovyansk 44/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian masked gunman patrols a street in the center of Slovyansk 45/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters attend their rally near of a barricade in front of the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk 46/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk An woman holds a Russian flag as she sits next to an elderly women inside a compound created by barricades which surround the Donetsk Regional Administration Building in Donetsk 47/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Pro Russia militia carry a casket bearing Pavel Pavelko (42) one of three pro Russia militiamen killed in a shooting by unknown gunmen at a checkpoint, during his funeral procession in Alexandrovska village near Slovyansk 48/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Supporters of the Communist Party of Ukraine meet near the monument of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin in Lugansk 49/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk A masked man in military fatigues brings a blindfolded Irma Krat, arrested and held by pro-Russian protestors before her meeting with journalists near of occupied police station in Slaviansk 50/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian activists are demanding broader autonomy from Kiev and closer ties to Russia and continue to occupy government, police and other administrative buildings in eastern Ukrainian cities, in defiance of an ultimatum by the Ukrainian government to lay down their weapons 51/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine had agreed on steps to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine during talks in Geneva, Switzerland 52/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Valeriy Bolotov (R) new people's governor of Luhansk, speaks to the media after he was pronounced the "people's governor" inside the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk 53/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk An orthodox priest sprinkles a holy water over a group of people during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 54/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Bodies of men killed in a gunfight are seen in coffins during a funeral ceremony in Slaviansk 55/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk An activist shows ammunition near burned out vehicles in front of a pro-Russian blockade near Slaviansk 56/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A masked man guards the entrance of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists during a rally in Lugansk 57/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Soviet army veteran Yuri stands outside a regional government building in Donetsk 58/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Defiant Pro-Russian supporters react during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 59/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A tearful pro-Russian supportes during the singing of the Russian national hymn during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 60/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A Soviet flag is seen on a barricade outside a regional government building in Donetsk 61/126 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian armed men walk past activists hanging up a "Donetsk Republic" flag outside the mayor's office in Slaviansk 62/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A man in military fatigues hugs a woman and a child during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 63/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Armed Pro-Russian man poses for a photo with local children next to barricades in front of city hall in Slovyansk AFP 64/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk The seperatist leader of the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, holds up the pictures of two pro-Russia militants killed the day before in a gunbattle with unidentified attackers, as he holds a press conference in Slavyansk AFP 65/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukrainian Christian worshipers carry crosses as they march around the regional government building in Donetsk Reuters 66/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk People rest under a tent next to barricades at the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk Reuters 67/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A masked man holds a gun as as other armed people stand near tanks in Slaviansk 68/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An Orthodox icon is displayed on barricades in front of a city parliament in Slovyansk 69/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Men wearing military fatigues ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 70/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Armed men wearing military fatigues gather by Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) as they stand guard outside the regional state building seized by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 71/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Masked pro-Russian gunmen attack a photojournalist near combat vehicles flying a Russian flag, in downtown of Slovyansk 72/126 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Men wearing military fatigues sit by a Russian flag and a white flag reading "People's volunteer corps of Donetsk" as they ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 73/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk Ukrainian soldiers clash with pro-Russia protesters in a field near Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine 74/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk Ukrainian General Genady Krutov (C) talks to journalists in front of an Ukrainian airbase in Kramatorsk 75/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk A woman wearing a national flower crown looks back as she attends a pro-Ukrainian rally in Luhansk 76/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Ukrainian soldiers stand guard near a military helicopter, near the Izyum city in Kharkiv area 77/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Pro-Russia activists throw stones as they storm the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk 78/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Pro-Russian men storm a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka 79/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Masked pro-Russian men attack British photojournalist Frederick Paxton during the mass storming of a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka 80/126 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Ukrainian police try to stop pro-Russia activists from storming the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk 81/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian fighter guards a barricade bearing the Russian flag on the road leading to the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk AFP/Getty 82/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Armed pro-Russia protesters prepare for the battle with Ukrainian police special team on the outskirts the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk 83/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russian activists escort a man (unseen) who they say is a provocateur outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk 84/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russia supporters surround a man who they say is a provocateur (C) outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk 85/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Armed pro-Russian supporters carry an Eastern Orthodox icon of Mary Magdalene outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk 86/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Pro-Russian activists occupy the police station carrying riot shields as people watch on, in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk 87/126 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk, near Slovyansk The interior minister overnight reported an attack on a police in the city of Kramatorsk, close to the city of Slovyansk 88/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian gunman stands guard at a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk 89/126 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian gunman carries a mattress in a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk 90/126 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A pro-Russian supporter flashes the 'V'-sign during a rally in front of the security service building occupied by Pro-Russian activists in Lugansk 91/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian supporters clash with supporters of Single Ukraine in downtown Kharkiv 92/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk An effigy depicting Ukrainian politician and presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko is hanged on a advertisement board in front of the offices of the SBU state security service in Luhansk 93/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Pro-Russian protesters set a barbed wire on a barricade outside the SBU state security service in Luhansk 94/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk A masked pro-Russian activist stands in front of barricades at the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk 95/126 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Pro-Russian separatists reinforced barricades around the state security building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk and called on President Vladimir Putin for help after the government warned it could use force to restore order 96/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A Pro-Russian activist wears a hand-made mask behind a barricade in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk 97/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters hold placards reading 'Freedom for detained heroes!' during a rally near the district court in Kharkiv 98/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Policemen leave their position from the regional administration building in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv 99/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally near the district court in Kharkiv. Meanwhile, Russia rejected accusations that it was massing troops for an invasion of Ukraine and accused the West of making 'baseless' claims and waging an anti-Russian campaign 100/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv A view of the interior of the Kharkiv regional state administration chancery after being destroyed by pro-Russian protesters. Ukrainian policemen were injured as a result of an operation to free the administration building from pro-Russian separatists. Ukraine's acting president said on April 8 he would treat Russian separatists who have seized buildings in the east of the country as "terrorists" who will be prosecuted with the full force of the law 101/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters throw stones at an Interior Ministry bus near the regional administration building in Kharkiv. Ukrainian police cleared pro-Moscow protesters from a regional administration building in a lightning night-time operation, but others held out in two more eastern cities in what Kiev says is a Russian-led plan to dismember the country. Shots were fired, a grenade thrown and 70 people detained as officers ended the occupation in the city of Kharkiv during an 18 minute "anti-terrorism" action 102/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Armed men in masks, representing Ukrainian special forces, stand guard outside the regional administration building in Kharkiv 103/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters burn tires near of a regional administration building after police cleared it in Kharkiv. Protesters are demanding a referendum on the status of the Kharkiv region, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea 104/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian activists hold red flags with the communist hammer and sickle and the soviet "USSR" initals during a rally at the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv 105/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters (L) clash with activists (R) supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine as Interior Ministry members (C) attempt to break them apart during rallies in the eastern city of Kharkiv 106/126 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters and police officers surround a group of around fifteen ultra-nationalist Right Sector group members (C) during a rally in Kharkiv. Several hundred pro-Russian protesters surrounded the group of ultra-nationalists and forced them to march down a steep hill on their knees in what appeared to be a humiliation ritual that drew no police response during the rally in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv 107/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester holds a placard bearing a crossed out "Nato" during a rally in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk 108/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters wave Russian flags during their rally in downtown Donetsk 109/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists guard a barricade set at the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk 110/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukraine's embattled prime minister accused Russia of trying to "dismember" his country by plotting seizures of government buildings in eastern regions that are seeking to break away from Kiev 111/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists outside the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk 112/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Protesters are calling for former President Yanukovych to return to Ukraine and to hold a referendum on the status of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea 113/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters stand next to a barricade in front of the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk. According to reports, pro-Russian demonstrators stormed the administration building in Donetsk 114/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Protesters set up a barricade inside an occupied regional administration building in Donetsk 115/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russia protester sets on fire an effigy depicting Stepan Bandera, one of the founders of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, during a rally in Donetsk 116/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian masked activist waves a Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, where a large group of people surged into the provincial government building and smashed windows. A gathering of several hundred, many of them waving Russian flags, then listened to speeches delivered from a balcony emblazoned with a banner reading a "Donetsk Republic" 117/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists hold a huge Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine AP 118/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists hold a rally in front of Ukraine's regional security service of Ukraine in Lugansk Getty Images 119/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building Getty Images 120/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists evacuate a wounded following clashes with anti-riot forces after storming the Regional Security Service of Ukraine Getty Images 121/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters clash with police as they try to occupy a regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine EPA 122/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Around 100 pro-Russian protesters stormed the regional government building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk Reuters 123/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk People clash with police at the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine AP 124/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally in Odessa, Ukraine EPA 125/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester waves a Russian flag behind policemen near the regional government building in Donetsk Reuters 126/126 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk Getty Images

Ukraine is scheduled to hold a presidential election on 25 May. But Mr Peskov said it would be "absurd" for it to go ahead under the current conditions of "military action, a punitive operation and mass killings".

Mr Kerry, currently in Africa, spoke with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to warn of further economic penalties if the situation did not stabilise.

"It's important for Russia to withdraw support for the separatists," he said. "If those supported by Russia continue to interfere with the elections, regrettably there will have to be sanctions, including the possibility of – the reality of – sector sanctions."

Mr Lavrov responded by placing the responsibility for defusing the crisis on the West. The US, he said, must use its influence in Kiev.

A former British ambassador to Moscow warned that the Kremlin's claims not to be orchestrating the situation should not be dismissed. Sir Rodric Braithwaite told The Independent on Sunday: "It may be true that Putin is losing control of events in eastern Ukraine and that he fears being sucked into a situation which could turn out to be unmanageable. It is unlikely that he has abandoned the proposition that he put forward weeks ago, that Ukraine needs a new constitution of a federal kind with specific rights for the Russian-language population in the East … The West will need to think how to respond to these propositions if a constructive negotiation for the benefit of the Ukrainians themselves is to be got under way."