Ukraine Journalist Killed By Masked Gunmen
A Ukrainian journalist known for his pro-Russian views has been shot dead by two masked men – in what is believed to be the ninth political killing in the country since January.
Oles Buzina, who was a vocal supporter of Viktor Yanukovych, was assassinated outside his home in Kiev on Thursday afternoon, according to the interior ministry.
The 45-year-old's death comes after a former MP in Mr Yanukovych's regime, Oleg Kalashnikov, died in similar circumstances as he arrived home on Wednesday night.
Officials close to President Petro Poroshenko have claimed both men were involved in last year's "Anti-Maidan" movement – which opposed the widespread pro-Western demonstrations which caused Mr Yanukovych to flee to Moscow.
At least seven other government officials from Mr Yanukovych's time in office have also died since the beginning of the year, with many cases treated as suicides by police.
In March, a prosecutor fell from the ninth-floor window of a block of flats.
Meanwhile, in February, five former officials died in the space of four days.
Two of the men were discovered with gunshot wounds, and their deaths were treated as suicides.
The third was found hanged, and the fourth apparently jumped from the 17th floor of his apartment's building.
The body of another man, who served as a deputy police chief in Melitopol, was found in a garage.
The spate of mysterious deaths began at the end of January, when the former head of Kharkiv's regional government was found hanged.
They come against the background of ongoing fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatist fighters, in which more than 6,000 people are thought to have been killed.
Russian president Vladimir Putin, who annexed Ukraine's Crimea region last year, has denied accusations that his troops are taking part in fighting in eastern Ukraine.
When asked about the latest assassinations during his annual phone-in on Thursday, Mr Putin said: "Ukraine is dealing with a whole string of such murders."
