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Ukraine launches 'anti-terror operation' in the east Ukraine crisis: 'Shots fired' as Kiev launches operation to take back eastern police buildings occupied by pro-Russian militia
(about 2 hours later)
Ukraine has launched an “anti-terrorist” operation to end the grip of armed, pro-Russian separatists over an eastern town, the country's interior minister has confirmed. Ukraine has launched an “anti-terror” operation against armed gunmen who have seized police buildings in the eastern city of Slovyansk, issuing a warning for members of the public to keep clear.
“An anti-terrorist operation has begun in Slaviansk. It is being directed by the anti-terrorist centre of the state security service. Forces from all the security units of the country have been brought in,” Interfax news agency quoted the minister, Arsen Avakov, as saying on his Facebook page. "Pass it on to all civilians: they should leave the centre of town, not come out of their apartments, and not go near the windows." Yesterday a pro-Russian militia took control of the security service offices and police headquarters in the city, forcing the resignation of its police chief and calling for a break away from the control of the central government in Kiev.
Pro-Russian activists carrying automatic weapons seized government buildings in the town about 150 km (90 miles) from the Russian border on Saturday, and set up barricades on the outskirts of the city. The Ukrainian interior minister, Arsen Avakov, described the protests as “Russian aggression” and said that the “separatists” had opened fire on his troops as they assembled outside the security offices.
A Reuters correspondent outside the town's police headquarters, one of the buildings seized, said two military helicopters were flying overhead. “An anti-terrorist operation has begun in Slovyansk. It is being directed by the anti-terrorist centre of the state security service. Forces from all the security units of the country have been brought in,” Interfax news agency quoted the minister, Arsen Avakov, as saying on his Facebook page.
About a dozen women, who had been in the building when it was seized, were evacuated as soon as Avakov's announcement was made known. The display of Ukrainian defiance comes despite Russia warning that it will not take part in a summit in Kiev next week if force is used against protesters - armed or not.
A group of up to a 100 civilians, many of them elderly women, stood in front of the building, chanting messages of solidarity to the protesters inside, including “Referendum!”, a reference to demands for a local poll to be held to determine a separate status for the region. “Pass it on to all civilians,” Avakov's message read. “They should leave the centre of town, not come out of their apartments, and not go near the windows.”
On the building's forecourt, which itself was barricaded, protesters beat out a defiant tattoo on shields they were carrying. Activists carrying automatic weapons seized government buildings in the city about 150 km (90 miles) from the Russian border on Saturday, and set up barricades on the outskirts of town.
Reuters Slovanysk’s mayor said the men who captured the police station were demanding a referendum on autonomy and possible annexation by Russia.
Reporters in the city said about a dozen women, who had been in the building when it was seized, were allowed to leave as soon as Avakov's announcement was made known.
In addition to the actions of the pro-Russian militia, a group of around 100 civilians have set up a peaceful protest in front of the building – in support of those inside.
Meanwhile John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, spoke to Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov to condemn the developments in Slovansk, which he described as “orchestrated and synchronized, similar to previous attacks in eastern Ukraine and Crimea”.
The fall of key buildings in the city came a week after protesters in the nearby industrial hub, Donetsk, took over the regional government and declared a new “republic”. Yesterday also saw Donetsk’s police headquarters fall to activists.
And the pattern of capture and re-capture of government buildings has continued across eastern Ukraine in the past two weeks, including the major cities of Kharkiv and Luhansk.
The Russian foreign ministry has repeatedly dismissed any attempts by the West to blame it for what is going on. Mr Lavrov today said the crisis stemmed from the failure of the Ukrainian government to “take into account the legitimate needs and interests of the Russian and Russian-speaking population”.
He added that Russia may pull out of diplomatic talks due to be held in Kiev next week if Ukraine persists in using force against “residents of the southeast who were driven to despair”.