Ukraine crisis: Deadly bomb blast hits rally in Kharkiv

A bomb has killed at least three people and injured 10 at a patriotic rally in Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv, in what police suspect was a terror attack.

The device exploded at 13:20 (11:20 GMT) as people gathered near the city’s Palace of Sport for a march in support of national unity, Ukrainian media say.

At least one police officer was killed, the interior ministry says.

Kharkiv lies outside the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine, where a ceasefire appears finally to be taking hold.

The government and rebels there have agreed to start pulling back heavy weapons from the frontline, with the actual withdrawal expected to get under way on Tuesday.

The process will not be completed until at least 8 March, five days later than the deadline set at peace talks in Minsk this month.

Another key element of the Minsk deal moved forward on Saturday when the Ukrainian government and the rebels exchanged 191 prisoners.

The BBC’s David Stern in Kiev said the exchange was the first positive news since the Minsk agreement.