A series of pro-Russia protests in the Ukraine have led government authorities to accuse Russia of "tearing the country apart," according to The Wall Street Journal.
Protests have been reported in the eastern industrial cities of Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhansk. With a mostly ethnic Russian population, protesters in these cities are challenging the new Ukraine government and calling for a referendum on independence.
The protests indicate "the second wave of Russia's special operation against Ukraine, aimed at destabilization, toppling the current government, thwarting elections and tearing the country apart," Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov said, the Wall Street Journal reported.
"The enemies of Ukraine are trying to restage the Crimean scenario, but we will prevent it," the acting president said.
Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in March after its mostly ethnic population voted in a referendum to secede from Ukraine. The referendum along with Russia's presence in Ukraine has been denounced by the West as illegal.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Ukraine was looking for someone to blame its problems on.
"Enough putting the blame on Russia and accusing her of all of Ukraine's troubles today," the ministry said according to The Wall Street Journal. "The Ukrainian people want to hear clear answer from Kiev on all questions."
The U.S., which already has sanctions in place against Russia, supported Ukraine's claims. The Obama administration said it suspects the protesters were paid off, but would not reveal what evidence it had to support the suspicion.
"I think that at least suggests that outside forces, not local forces, were participating on the effort to create these provocations," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said, the newspaper reported.
The new string of protests could delay Ukraine's plans to hold elections to officially choose a leader after Russian-supported President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted earlier this year. Russia claims the elections, scheduled for May 25, should be postponed because Ukraine's ethnic Russians will be underrepresented, the Wall Street Journal reported.
