Things definitely seem to be getting much worse in Ukraine.
Ukraine clashes: dozens reported dead after Odessa building fire Police say people choked to death on smoke or were killed jumping out of window after assault on trade union building
More than 30 people were reported to have been killed in violent and chaotic clashes in the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa on Friday as pro-Ukrainian activists stormed a building defended by protesters opposed to the current government in Kiev and in favour of closer ties with Russia.
Odessa's large Soviet-era trade union building was set alight as pro-Ukrainian activists mounted an assault as dusk fell. Police said at least 31 people choked to death on smoke or were killed when jumping out of windows after the trade union building was set on fire.
Bodies lay in pools of blood outside the main entrance as explosions from improvised grenades and Molotov cocktails filled the air. Black smoke from the building and a burning pro-Russian protest camp wreathed the nearby square.
Bloody and dazed pro-Russian protesters were eventually escorted out of the building, and were immediately surrounded by angry mobs. Many were handed over to police, and loaded on to police vans.
"The aim is to completely clear Odessa [of pro-Russians]," said Dmitry Rogovsky, another activist from Right Sector whose hand had been injured during the fighting. "They are all paid Russian separatists."
There were also armed clashes in other Ukrainian cites that resulted in several deaths. Ukrainian helicopters were shot down by separatist forces.
There really doesn't seem to be any question that the country has reached the point of open civil war. It is very difficult to envision the way forward. The national presidential elections are scheduled for later this month. Even holding them in this climate would be difficult, to say nothing about the prospects of the results establishing anything like a national political consensus.