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Ukraine crisis: Casualties in Sloviansk gun battles Ukraine crisis: Casualties in Sloviansk gun battles
(about 1 hour later)
Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian armed men have traded gunfire in a battle for control of the eastern town of Sloviansk, the interior minister says. A Ukrainian officer has been killed in a gun battle with pro-Russian armed men in the eastern city of Sloviansk, the interior minister says.
At least one Ukrainian officer was killed and both sides suffered casualties, Arsen Avakov said. Both sides suffered a number of casualties, Arsen Avakov said.
Pro-Russian forces took over the town on Saturday, prompting Kiev to launch an "anti-terror operation". Pro-Russian forces took over Sloviansk on Saturday and have targeted at least four other cities, prompting Kiev to launch an "anti-terror operation".
Kiev and Western powers accuse Moscow of inciting the trouble. The Kremlin denies the charge.Kiev and Western powers accuse Moscow of inciting the trouble. The Kremlin denies the charge.
Sloviansk was one of three towns in the Donetsk region to be hit by pro-Russian gunmen on Saturday. US officials said on Saturday there had been a "concerted campaign" by forces with Russian support to undermine the authorities in Kiev.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had warned earlier that any use of force in eastern Ukraine could scupper crisis talks due later this week. Secretary of State John Kerry warned of "additional consequences" if Russia failed to make efforts to "de-escalate" and pull its troops back from Ukraine's border.
He said the Kiev government was "demonstrating its inability to take responsibility for the fate of the country". But Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Kiev government was "demonstrating its inability to take responsibility for the fate of the country".
But the US said there had been a "concerted campaign" by forces with Russian support to undermine the authorities in Kiev. He had warned earlier that any use of force in eastern Ukraine could scupper crisis talks due later this week.
US Secretary of State John Kerry warned of "additional consequences" if Russia failed to make efforts to "de-escalate" and pull its troops back from Ukraine's border. Ukrainian officials were due to meet counterparts from Russia, the US and the EU in Geneva on Thursday.
Four-party talks involving Ukraine, Russia, the US and the EU are due to start in Geneva on Thursday.
'Shooting to kill''Shooting to kill'
On Saturday, armed men took over police stations and official buildings in Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka.On Saturday, armed men took over police stations and official buildings in Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka.
Reports emerged from Sloviansk and Kramatorsk of armed men dressed in camouflage arriving in buses and storming the police stations. Unconfirmed reports suggested official buildings had also been taken over in two other cities - Mariupol and Yenakievo.
Similar accounts emerged from Sloviansk and Kramatorsk on Saturday of armed men dressed in camouflage arriving in buses and storming the police stations.
Pro-Russian demonstrators also continued their occupation of the main administrative building in the regional capital Donetsk, which they have held for one week.Pro-Russian demonstrators also continued their occupation of the main administrative building in the regional capital Donetsk, which they have held for one week.
A protest leader told the BBC that the activists in Sloviansk took action to support the Donetsk sit-in.A protest leader told the BBC that the activists in Sloviansk took action to support the Donetsk sit-in.
BBC reporters in Sloviansk said the gunmen were well-organised and quickly established control throughout the town.BBC reporters in Sloviansk said the gunmen were well-organised and quickly established control throughout the town.
Checkpoints had been set up on the main roads into the town.Checkpoints had been set up on the main roads into the town.
Mr Avakov labelled the actions a "display of aggression by Russia".Mr Avakov labelled the actions a "display of aggression by Russia".
Announcing the operation to clear the activists, he warned people to stay in their homes in Sloviansk.Announcing the operation to clear the activists, he warned people to stay in their homes in Sloviansk.
"The separatists are shooting to kill without warning against the approaching special forces," he said,"The separatists are shooting to kill without warning against the approaching special forces," he said,
Local governor Sergei Taruta said "all legitimate means" would be used to combat "acts of terror" and restore order across Donetsk region. He later said Ukrainian forces had been attacked at a checkpoint on the way to Sloviansk, and at least one officer had been killed and five others wounded.
An unknown number of militants were also wounded, he said.
Witnesses at the police station say there is not yet any sign of clashes, and the centre of the town is quiet.
Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population and has seen a series of protests since the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February.Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population and has seen a series of protests since the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February.
Are you in eastern Ukraine? Have you been affected by the unrest? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Ukraine".Are you in eastern Ukraine? Have you been affected by the unrest? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Ukraine".
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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