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Ukraine crisis: Army moves to retake Sloviansk | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Commandos have moved on the separatist stronghold of Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine days after a new "anti-terrorist" operation was announced. | |
A number of casualties were reported among the separatists as the commandos, backed by armour, cleared barricades near the town. | |
Separatists are occupying key buildings in at least a dozen eastern towns. | Separatists are occupying key buildings in at least a dozen eastern towns. |
It appears that pro-government forces have regained control of the city hall in another eastern town, Mariupol. | |
In another development, the funeral is taking place of a pro-Ukrainian politician, Volodymyr Rybak, who was abducted and killed in Donetsk region. | |
Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama has accused Russia of flouting a deal on Ukraine reached in Geneva last week, under which illegal armed groups, including those who have seized public buildings, would return home. | Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama has accused Russia of flouting a deal on Ukraine reached in Geneva last week, under which illegal armed groups, including those who have seized public buildings, would return home. |
Mr Obama told a news conference in Japan that Moscow had failed to halt actions by militants in the region and warned that the US had further sanctions against Russia "teed up". | Mr Obama told a news conference in Japan that Moscow had failed to halt actions by militants in the region and warned that the US had further sanctions against Russia "teed up". |
A contingent of US troops has begun landing in Poland for military exercises amid concerns among Nato's eastern members about Russian intentions. | A contingent of US troops has begun landing in Poland for military exercises amid concerns among Nato's eastern members about Russian intentions. |
Moscow has said it will respond to any attack on its interests in Ukraine. | Moscow has said it will respond to any attack on its interests in Ukraine. |
Unrest began in Ukraine last November over whether the country should look towards Moscow or the West. | Unrest began in Ukraine last November over whether the country should look towards Moscow or the West. |
Army operation | |
One roadblock near Sloviansk, in Donetsk region, could be seen on fire amid reports that separatists had abandoned it when Ukrainian soldiers approached. | |
As many as five separatists were killed, according to Ukraine's interior ministry. An aide to Sloviansk's self-appointed mayor said two people had died. | |
An initial operation against the separatists on 16 April became bogged down in Sloviansk, where Ukrainian soldiers abandoned their troop carriers to protesters. | |
Elsewhere, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov announced that the city hall in Mariupol, a port on the Sea of Azov in the Donetsk region, had been "liberated" overnight, although there was no independent confirmation. "Civic activists" played a major part in the operation, he said. | |
Several people were said to have been hurt during the overnight operation in Mariupol, where three pro-Russian protesters were killed when Ukrainian security forces fought off a raid on a base on 17 April. | |
According to the local news website 0629, a group of about 30 unidentified men in their twenties armed with baseball bats stormed the mayor's office between 03:00 (01:00 GMT) and 04:00 on Thursday. | According to the local news website 0629, a group of about 30 unidentified men in their twenties armed with baseball bats stormed the mayor's office between 03:00 (01:00 GMT) and 04:00 on Thursday. |
The protesters called the police who reportedly came out and calmed down the opposing sides. | The protesters called the police who reportedly came out and calmed down the opposing sides. |
Negotiations are under way at the scene between the separatists, the local pro-Ukrainian authorities and the police, the site says. | Negotiations are under way at the scene between the separatists, the local pro-Ukrainian authorities and the police, the site says. |
While the interior minister said nobody had been hurt in the operation, 0629 reported that five men were injured, though not seriously. | While the interior minister said nobody had been hurt in the operation, 0629 reported that five men were injured, though not seriously. |
Mr Avakov also said that Ukrainian troops in Artemivsk, another town in the Donetsk region, had fended off an attempt by dozens of pro-Russian militants to seize weapons from a military unit. One soldier was wounded, he said. | Mr Avakov also said that Ukrainian troops in Artemivsk, another town in the Donetsk region, had fended off an attempt by dozens of pro-Russian militants to seize weapons from a military unit. One soldier was wounded, he said. |
Unverified footage of military helicopters, said to be flying over Artemivsk, was posted by a blogger on YouTube. | Unverified footage of military helicopters, said to be flying over Artemivsk, was posted by a blogger on YouTube. |
A local journalist, Anna Bokovaya, told Russian TV that about 50 people had taken part in the attack on the military unit, which lasted 45 minutes. | A local journalist, Anna Bokovaya, told Russian TV that about 50 people had taken part in the attack on the military unit, which lasted 45 minutes. |
The militants began the attack after the soldiers inside rejected a demand to surrender, she said. The town was calm again on Thursday morning, she added. | The militants began the attack after the soldiers inside rejected a demand to surrender, she said. The town was calm again on Thursday morning, she added. |
Are you in Mariupol? How has the unrest affected you? You can email us your experiences at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Ukraine'. | Are you in Mariupol? How has the unrest affected you? You can email us your experiences at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Ukraine'. |