Pro-Russian journalist shot dead in Ukraine

Leading pro-Russian journalist Oles Buzyna, a former editor-in-chief and one-time parliamentary candidate, was killed today by shots fired from a passing car in Ukrainian capital Kiev, Ukrainian Interior Minister Anton Herashchenko said. The shooting comes a day after MP Oleg Kalashnikov, an ally of ousted President Victor Yanukovych, was shot dead in the capital.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said, Ukraine government is cutting off defiant rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine through an economic blockade. He was addressing a huge Russian audience in a live televised phone-in. He also insisted there are no Russian troops in Ukraine. Moscow denies Western charges that it is directly arming and reinforcing the rebels.