Is Ukraine about to go nuclear again?

Howard Hall. Natalie Manayeva and Dean Rice
5 minute read
Published 2:33 PM EDT, Wed April 16, 2014
A man looks at a bullet shell next to a destroyed car after a gunfight between pro-Russian militiamen and Ukrainian forces in Karlivka, Ukraine, on Friday, May 23. Much of Ukraine's unrest has been centered in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where separatists have claimed independence from the government in Kiev.
Crisis in Ukraine —
A man looks at a bullet shell next to a destroyed car after a gunfight between pro-Russian militiamen and Ukrainian forces in Karlivka, Ukraine, on Friday, May 23. Much of Ukraine's unrest has been centered in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where separatists have claimed independence from the government in Kiev.
DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images
The body of a pro-Ukrainian militia fighter lies along a road in Karlivka on May 23.
Crisis in Ukraine —
The body of a pro-Ukrainian militia fighter lies along a road in Karlivka on May 23.
Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images
A woman walks past a destroyed car after Ukrainian government forces fired mortar shells during clashes with pro-Russian forces in Slovyansk, Ukraine, on May 23.
Crisis in Ukraine —
A woman walks past a destroyed car after Ukrainian government forces fired mortar shells during clashes with pro-Russian forces in Slovyansk, Ukraine, on May 23.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
A pro-Russian activist carries a ballot box away from a polling station in Donetsk, Ukraine, as he prepares to smash it on May 23.
Crisis in Ukraine —
A pro-Russian activist carries a ballot box away from a polling station in Donetsk, Ukraine, as he prepares to smash it on May 23.
stringer/Photomig/AP
Local citizens help support a woman at a rally protesting shelling by Ukrainian government forces in the village of Semyonovka, Ukraine, on Thursday, May 22.
Crisis in Ukraine —
Local citizens help support a woman at a rally protesting shelling by Ukrainian government forces in the village of Semyonovka, Ukraine, on Thursday, May 22.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/ap
Bodies covered with blankets lie in a field near the village of Blahodatne, Ukraine, on May 22, as a Ukrainian soldier smokes next to his armored infantry vehicle.
Crisis in Ukraine —
Bodies covered with blankets lie in a field near the village of Blahodatne, Ukraine, on May 22, as a Ukrainian soldier smokes next to his armored infantry vehicle.
Ivan Sekretarev/ap
A Ukrainian soldier rests inside an armored personnel carrier at a checkpoint near Slovyansk on Wednesday, May 21.
Crisis in Ukraine —
A Ukrainian soldier rests inside an armored personnel carrier at a checkpoint near Slovyansk on Wednesday, May 21.
Petr Shelomovskiy/ap
Yekaterina Len cries outside her home after it was hit by mortar shells during fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian soldiers in Slovyansk on Tuesday, May 20.
Crisis in Ukraine —
Yekaterina Len cries outside her home after it was hit by mortar shells during fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian soldiers in Slovyansk on Tuesday, May 20.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
A Ukrainian soldier stands guard on the road from Izium, Ukraine, to Slovyansk on Monday, May 19.
Crisis in Ukraine —
A Ukrainian soldier stands guard on the road from Izium, Ukraine, to Slovyansk on Monday, May 19.
GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images
A new recruit gets his hair cut at a training camp for the Donbass Battalion, a pro-Ukrainian militia, in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine on May 19.
Crisis in Ukraine —
A new recruit gets his hair cut at a training camp for the Donbass Battalion, a pro-Ukrainian militia, in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine on May 19.
Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images
Pro-Russian armed militants guard a checkpoint in Slovyansk on May 19, blocking a major highway to Kharkiv.
Crisis in Ukraine —
Pro-Russian armed militants guard a checkpoint in Slovyansk on May 19, blocking a major highway to Kharkiv.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
Pro-Russian militants detain three men on Sunday, May 18, in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. The men are suspected of spying for the Ukrainian government.
Crisis in Ukraine —
Pro-Russian militants detain three men on Sunday, May 18, in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. The men are suspected of spying for the Ukrainian government.
stringer/ap
A bodyguard of insurgent leader Denis Pushilin stands in front of a statue of Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin during a pro-Russia rally in Donetsk on May 18.
Crisis in Ukraine —
A bodyguard of insurgent leader Denis Pushilin stands in front of a statue of Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin during a pro-Russia rally in Donetsk on May 18.
Vadim Ghirda/AP
Pro-Russian militants guard a checkpoint outside Slovyansk on Saturday, May 17.
Crisis in Ukraine —
Pro-Russian militants guard a checkpoint outside Slovyansk on Saturday, May 17.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
Employees of the Ukrainian company Metinvest clear away debris in a government building in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Friday, May 16, after pro-Russian separatists relinquished their hold on it.
Crisis in Ukraine —
Employees of the Ukrainian company Metinvest clear away debris in a government building in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Friday, May 16, after pro-Russian separatists relinquished their hold on it.
Evgeniy Maloletka/AP