Pro-Russian activists in eastern
Ukraine have said they will not postpone a referendum on independence planned
for Sunday.
The decision comes one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin urged
delaying the vote to create the conditions necessary for dialogue.
But Ukrainian authorities said "anti-terror" operations would continue
regardless of the rebels' decision.
Millions of ballot papers have been prepared for the vote.
In what appeared to be a further shift in Russian policy, Mr Putin also said
on Wednesday that this month's presidential elections in Ukraine were a move "in
the right direction".
His remarks came days after his spokesman said holding such an election would
be absurd.
Moscow has vowed to protect the rights of the largely Russian-speaking people
in the south and east against what it calls an undemocratic government in Kiev.
But Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk dismissed Mr Putin's
calls as "hot air".
Ukrainian authorities have rejected activist demands for greater autonomy and
troops have been battling to regain official buildings occupied by rebels in the
east.
On Thursday Ukraine's national security council confirmed military operations
would continue.
"The counterterrorist operation will go on regardless of any decisions by any
subversive or terrorist groups in the Donetsk region," the council's secretary
Andriy Parubiy said.
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