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Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk shooting threatens Easter truce Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk shooting threatens Easter truce
(35 minutes later)
At least two people have been killed after a gunfire battle erupted between pro-Russian separatists and far-right militiamen in the eastern Ukraine town of Slavyansk on Sunday.At least two people have been killed after a gunfire battle erupted between pro-Russian separatists and far-right militiamen in the eastern Ukraine town of Slavyansk on Sunday.
The incident comes just hours after Kiev declared a truce coinciding with the Easter holidays in an effort to de-escalate tensions in the volatile region where pro-Russian groups have seized government buildings calling for the interim government to resign.The incident comes just hours after Kiev declared a truce coinciding with the Easter holidays in an effort to de-escalate tensions in the volatile region where pro-Russian groups have seized government buildings calling for the interim government to resign.
Pro-Russian separatists said the battle broke out at a checkpoint at around 2am when Ukrainian nationalists opened fire, killing at least five, according to Russian television citing correspondents on the ground. Pro-Russian separatists said the battle broke out at a checkpoint at around 2am after Ukrainian nationalists opened fire.
In a statement, Russian's foreign ministry said a group of innocent civilians were shot dead in an attack led by the Right Sector, a far-right paramilitary group which played prominent role in the ousting of former president Viktor Yanukovych. "We had three dead, four wounded," one of the separatist fighters, named Vladimir, told Reuters.
In a statement, Russia's foreign ministry blamed the attack on Ukraine's Right Sector, a far-right paramilitary group which played a prominent role in the ousting of former president Viktor Yanukovych.
"Russia is indignant about this provocation by gunmen, which testifies to the lack of will on the part of the Kiev authorities to rein in and disarm nationalists and extremists," the statement said."Russia is indignant about this provocation by gunmen, which testifies to the lack of will on the part of the Kiev authorities to rein in and disarm nationalists and extremists," the statement said.
The Right Sector denied being involved in the Slavyansk shooting and blamed Russian special forces for the attack.The Right Sector denied being involved in the Slavyansk shooting and blamed Russian special forces for the attack.
"It is a blasphemous provocation from Russia, blasphemous because it took place on a holy night for Christians, on Easter night. This was clearly carried out by Russian special forces," Artem Skoropadsky, a spokesman for the Right Sector, told Reuters."It is a blasphemous provocation from Russia, blasphemous because it took place on a holy night for Christians, on Easter night. This was clearly carried out by Russian special forces," Artem Skoropadsky, a spokesman for the Right Sector, told Reuters.
Ukraine's interior ministry confirmed one person was killed in the attack and three were injured. It said police is investigating the incident. Ukraine's interior ministry said one person was killed in the attack and three were injured.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk lashed out at the Kremlin accusing President Vladimir Putin of trying to "restore the Soviet Union" in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday.Meanwhile, Ukraine's interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk lashed out at the Kremlin accusing President Vladimir Putin of trying to "restore the Soviet Union" in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday.
Mr Yatsenyuk warned that, if Mr Putin succeeds in restoring the USSR, it will be the "biggest disaster of this century". "President Putin has a dream to restore the Soviet Union," said Yatsenyuk. "And every day, he goes further and further. And God knows where is the final destination."
The Russian leader once described the collapse of the USSR in 1991 as the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe" of the 20th century.
In stark contrast, Mr Yatsenyuk warned that restoring the Soviet Union would be the "biggest disaster of this century".
His comments come after a senior mediator with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) set off for eastern Ukraine to try to persuade pro-Russian groups to lay down their arms on Saturday.His comments come after a senior mediator with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) set off for eastern Ukraine to try to persuade pro-Russian groups to lay down their arms on Saturday.
Separatists have remained in the buildings in defiance to an agreement reached between the interim government in Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the European Union.Separatists have remained in the buildings in defiance to an agreement reached between the interim government in Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the European Union.
Washington has threatened further sanctions on Russia if it does not work to use its perceived influence over the separatists to get them to  leave the buildings.Washington has threatened further sanctions on Russia if it does not work to use its perceived influence over the separatists to get them to  leave the buildings.