A standoff continues in Ukraine where pro-Russian separatists have seized government buildings in eastern areas. In the city of Luhansk, the demonstrators have barricaded themselves in and readied fuel bombs. The government in Kiev has warned of sending in troops to restore order. Testifying before a Senate panel in Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russia of direct involvement.

Secretary of State John Kerry: “Everything that we’ve seen in the last 48 hours from Russian provocateurs and agents operating in eastern Ukraine tells us that they’ve been sent there determined to create chaos. And that is absolutely unacceptable. These efforts are as ham-handed as they are transparent, frankly. And quite simply, what we see from Russia is an illegal and illegitimate effort to destabilize a sovereign state and create a contrived crisis with paid operatives across an international boundary engaged in this initiative.”

Russia has denied planning military operations in eastern Ukraine. Kerry is set to hold talks with counterparts from Russia, Ukraine and the European Union next week, the first time the four sides have met since the crisis began.