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Ukraine neo-Nazis say they killed rebel commander 'Motorola' Ukraine rebels accuse Kiev over death of commander 'Motorola'
(about 2 hours later)
A Ukrainian neo-Nazi group called the "Misanthropic Division" says it assassinated a leading pro-Russian rebel commander in eastern Ukraine. Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine are trying to find out who assassinated one of their commanders, considered a war criminal by Ukrainian authorities.
Russian-born Arsen Pavlov, nicknamed "Motorola", was killed by a bomb blast in the lift of his apartment block on Sunday, in the city of Donetsk.Russian-born Arsen Pavlov, nicknamed "Motorola", was killed by a bomb blast in the lift of his apartment block on Sunday, in the city of Donetsk.
The claim was made in a short video clip tweeted by Alexander Kots, a Russian war correspondent. Four masked men with guns appeared in it. The rebels accused Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko of declaring war.
Russia backs the Donetsk insurgents. A video appeared online purportedly from a Ukrainian neo-Nazi group claiming it had killed Motorola.
Motorola commanded a rebel battalion called Sparta which took part in major offensives against Ukrainian government forces at Donetsk airport and Ilovaysk. But the claim from the mysterious "Misanthropic Division" has to be treated with great caution, the BBC's Tom Burridge in Kiev says. Propaganda, often vicious and cynical, is a feature of the conflict, he says.
Little is known about the "division". The clip was tweeted by Alexander Kots, a Russian war correspondent, and showed four masked men with guns.
Motorola commanded a rebel battalion called Sparta, which took part in major offensives against Ukrainian government forces at Donetsk airport and Ilovaisk.
Ukraine accused him of war crimes.Ukraine accused him of war crimes.
Born in Komi, northern Russia, in 1983, he called himself a "volunteer" - which is what the Kremlin calls all the Russians fighting in the rebel ranks. Many of the rebel commanders are Russian citizens. Born in Komi, northern Russia, in 1983, Motorola called himself a "volunteer", the term used by the Kremlin for all Russians fighting in rebel ranks. Many of the rebel commanders are Russian citizens.
Ukraine, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia has supplied the rebels with heavy weapons and regular troops. Russia denies that, but it is hostile to the Kiev government and openly supports the rebel cause.
One of the rebel leaders in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, confirmed that a bomb blast had killed Motorola in the lift as he was returning home. It also wounded several others, he said.
In the video, the Misanthropic Division warned that it would target rebel leaders Alexander Zakharchenko and Igor Plotnitsky next.
Mr Zakharchenko heads the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic and Mr Plotnitsky the neighbouring Luhansk People's Republic.
The continuing use of heavy weapons along the front line in eastern Ukraine is undermining a fragile ceasefire.
Mr Zakharchenko called Motorola "my close friend". He said Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had breached the Minsk ceasefire deal and had "declared war". "Now you wait and see," he warned.
Last month President Poroshenko said Motorola had shot and killed a Ukrainian prisoner-of-war, Ihor Branovytsky, and said "the monster will answer" for that crime, the daily Ukrainskaya Pravda reported (in Russian).Last month President Poroshenko said Motorola had shot and killed a Ukrainian prisoner-of-war, Ihor Branovytsky, and said "the monster will answer" for that crime, the daily Ukrainskaya Pravda reported (in Russian).
In April last year Motorola told the Kiev Post that he had shot dead 15 Ukrainian soldiers captured by the rebels.In April last year Motorola told the Kiev Post that he had shot dead 15 Ukrainian soldiers captured by the rebels.
Commenting on the assassination, Donetsk rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko said: "As I understand it, Petro Poroshenko has violated the ceasefire and declared war on us."
Russia backs the Donetsk insurgents.
The continuing use of heavy weapons along the front line in eastern Ukraine is undermining the fragile ceasefire.
Ukraine, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia has supplied the rebels with heavy weapons and regular troops. Russia denies that, but it is hostile to the Kiev government and openly supports the rebel cause.
In the video, the "Misanthropic Division" warned that it would next target Alexander Zakharchenko and Igor Plotnitsky, the rebel leader in the neighbouring Luhansk region.