'UN observers to eastern Ukraine '

- The United Nations set up an observer mission to rope in Eastern Ukraine. The mission will start on Saturday, the Ukrainian representative to the UN in New York Tuesday. The peacekeepers will be in eastern Ukraine mainly involved in emergency aid for the population.

The mission will consist of employees from the development agency UNDP, UNICEF children's rights organization and the mine clearing service UNMAS. The team will commit at least consultation with the Ukrainian authorities in Kiev and local leaders in the east of the country.

Moscow has reacted indignantly to the news. The UN representative in Russia told the Internet newspaper Gazeta. ru that she knew nothing of the mission. Such kind of mission can only be performed after discussion about it with all involved and interested parties at the UN office in New York, said Russia's UN branch.