MOSCOW, April 14. /ITAR-TASS/. A special operation in the southeast of Ukraine ordered by the Kiev authorities can lead to a civil war in the country, Russia’s Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Andrei Kelin told Rossiya 24 television on Monday, April 14.

“It is known that they (authorities in Kiev) are planning to begin a counter-terrorism operation against peaceful demonstrators who have simple demands - greater autonomy (for regions) and the status of Russian (as a second official language),” he said.

According to Kelin, the Kiev authorities are forming troops made up of “patriots”. “All this can lead to a civil war. And this is a matter of serious concern to us," Kelin said.