Russia urges Ukraine to secure diplomatic missions

Russia urged Ukraine to take all necessary measures to ensure security for its diplomatic missions in the war-torn country, the foreign ministry said.

"The situation of Russian missions in Ukraine has deteriorated dramatically. On June 14, 2014, the building and property of the embassy in Kiev were seriously damaged as a result of unlawful actions which got no proper reaction from Ukrainian law enforcement agencies," Xinhua quoted the Russian foreign ministry as saying Monday.

The Russian consulate generals in Ukraine's Odessa and Kharkov cities were also threatened by "provocative actions" Monday, the ministry said.

"Russia calls Ukraine to strictly abide by the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention and other international documents to protect diplomatic mission and the Ukrainian authorities should bear full responsibility for that," the ministry added.

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 specifies the privileges of a diplomatic mission that enable diplomats to perform their functions without fear of coercion or harassment by the host country. This forms the legal basis for diplomatic immunity.

On Saturday, some 100 Ukrainian protestors gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Kiev, blocking the exits with car tires, throwing rocks and smoke grenades into the premise and tearing the Russian flag off the building.

Calling the demonstrators "fascist hooligans", Russia swiftly attributed the attack to "the irresponsible connivance of Ukrainian authorities".