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| Ukraine Pushes Back as Rebels Attack in the East | Ukraine Pushes Back as Rebels Attack in the East |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| LUHANSK, Ukraine — Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs said Tuesday that the central government’s security forces had begun a new phase of the campaign against separatist fighters in the city of Slovyansk, destroying rebel checkpoints and equipment and engaging in firefights. | LUHANSK, Ukraine — Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs said Tuesday that the central government’s security forces had begun a new phase of the campaign against separatist fighters in the city of Slovyansk, destroying rebel checkpoints and equipment and engaging in firefights. |
| The minister, Arsen Avakov, said in a Facebook posting that there had been “very intensive shooting” in the area of Semyonovka, near Slovyansk. He said that rebels had fired at military vehicles using rocket launchers, but that the personnel inside had survived and had managed to eliminate the checkpoints. | The minister, Arsen Avakov, said in a Facebook posting that there had been “very intensive shooting” in the area of Semyonovka, near Slovyansk. He said that rebels had fired at military vehicles using rocket launchers, but that the personnel inside had survived and had managed to eliminate the checkpoints. |
| “They made it,” he said of the armored personnel carriers. “Good job constructors.” | |
| Mr. Avakov added that the security forces in and around Slovyansk were warning residents in the area to remain in their homes. | Mr. Avakov added that the security forces in and around Slovyansk were warning residents in the area to remain in their homes. |
| The Interfax news agency quoted Vyacheslav Ponomarev, the leader of insurgents in Slovyansk, as saying that his men had downed a Ukrainian jet and a helicopter gunship, The Associated Press reported. There was no independent confirmation of the claim. | The Interfax news agency quoted Vyacheslav Ponomarev, the leader of insurgents in Slovyansk, as saying that his men had downed a Ukrainian jet and a helicopter gunship, The Associated Press reported. There was no independent confirmation of the claim. |
| In Luhansk, separatists began a siege on Tuesday of the central command for the border guards in the Luhansk region, whose sprawling border with Russia presents one of the most vexing problems for Kiev’s new government. The building was the scene of a big battle on Monday. | In Luhansk, separatists began a siege on Tuesday of the central command for the border guards in the Luhansk region, whose sprawling border with Russia presents one of the most vexing problems for Kiev’s new government. The building was the scene of a big battle on Monday. |
| A spokesman for the border guard service, Oleg Slobodyan, said that the complex was surrounded by separatist fighters, including Cossacks, but that the shooting had largely subsided. He said the border guards trapped inside “had high spirits,” and had even managed to raise a flag. | A spokesman for the border guard service, Oleg Slobodyan, said that the complex was surrounded by separatist fighters, including Cossacks, but that the shooting had largely subsided. He said the border guards trapped inside “had high spirits,” and had even managed to raise a flag. |
| But he also said there was little that the central border service could do to help them without support from the Ukrainian military, which had so far not come to their rescue. Ukrainian forces are already spread thin, having been engaged in an operation in the neighboring region of Donetsk. | But he also said there was little that the central border service could do to help them without support from the Ukrainian military, which had so far not come to their rescue. Ukrainian forces are already spread thin, having been engaged in an operation in the neighboring region of Donetsk. |
| “We are trying to morally support our people, to tell them that no one has forgotten them,” Mr. Slobodyan said. | “We are trying to morally support our people, to tell them that no one has forgotten them,” Mr. Slobodyan said. |
| A spokesman for the Ukrainian military, Vladislav Seleznyov, said that Ukrainian forces had killed or wounded about 300 rebels in fierce fighting in and around Slovyansk on Tuesday, but there was no independent confirmation of that assertion. | A spokesman for the Ukrainian military, Vladislav Seleznyov, said that Ukrainian forces had killed or wounded about 300 rebels in fierce fighting in and around Slovyansk on Tuesday, but there was no independent confirmation of that assertion. |
| He said 13 Ukrainian soldiers had been wounded and one soldier killed in an attack on their military convoy as it made its way to the fighting from the main military base at Izyum, a town farther north. He said the fighting was concentrated around the cities of Kramatorsk, Semyonovka and Slovyansk. | He said 13 Ukrainian soldiers had been wounded and one soldier killed in an attack on their military convoy as it made its way to the fighting from the main military base at Izyum, a town farther north. He said the fighting was concentrated around the cities of Kramatorsk, Semyonovka and Slovyansk. |
| The leader of the pro-Russian Luhansk People’s Republic, Valery Bolotov, said that he had given the border guards until evening to surrender, and that if they did not, “we will wipe them off the face of the earth.” | The leader of the pro-Russian Luhansk People’s Republic, Valery Bolotov, said that he had given the border guards until evening to surrender, and that if they did not, “we will wipe them off the face of the earth.” |
| A border guard inside the complex, reached by telephone, who gave his name only as Nikolai, said many of the approximately 150 guards inside wanted to go back to their families, but so far their commander was not allowing them to surrender. | A border guard inside the complex, reached by telephone, who gave his name only as Nikolai, said many of the approximately 150 guards inside wanted to go back to their families, but so far their commander was not allowing them to surrender. |
| “I feel sorry for them,” said Lyudmila Ivanovna, a worker from a veterans’ union who was trying to negotiate their release. “We’re trying to talk to the commander, but he’s not agreeing to speak.” | “I feel sorry for them,” said Lyudmila Ivanovna, a worker from a veterans’ union who was trying to negotiate their release. “We’re trying to talk to the commander, but he’s not agreeing to speak.” |
| On Tuesday afternoon, the weedy area around the mustard-colored complex was windy and deserted, and bullet holes riddled the walls. Passers-by were touching bullet holes in a wall of one of the apartment buildings. | On Tuesday afternoon, the weedy area around the mustard-colored complex was windy and deserted, and bullet holes riddled the walls. Passers-by were touching bullet holes in a wall of one of the apartment buildings. |
| In Luhansk, new information on an explosion at the regional administration building on Monday that killed eight people pointed to fire from an aircraft as the culprit. Mr. Bolotov said an analysis of the pieces of shrapnel and rocket casings showed they were from an S-8 rocket that is typically shot from an SU-25 fighter jet. | In Luhansk, new information on an explosion at the regional administration building on Monday that killed eight people pointed to fire from an aircraft as the culprit. Mr. Bolotov said an analysis of the pieces of shrapnel and rocket casings showed they were from an S-8 rocket that is typically shot from an SU-25 fighter jet. |
| A long string of at least 13 large holes had been torn into the ground, forming a raw line from a small park near a jungle gym to the front of the building, where a fourth-floor window and wall had been blown out. The Ukrainian military has denied responsibility for the attack, which seemed to harden even those residents inclined to think the best of the Kiev government. | A long string of at least 13 large holes had been torn into the ground, forming a raw line from a small park near a jungle gym to the front of the building, where a fourth-floor window and wall had been blown out. The Ukrainian military has denied responsibility for the attack, which seemed to harden even those residents inclined to think the best of the Kiev government. |
| “This isn’t an antiterror operation,” said Roman Semkalo, 43, who said he had watched the planes from his kitchen window on Monday, and had seen one open fire after letting off a round of protective flares. “It’s a terror operation against their own people.” | “This isn’t an antiterror operation,” said Roman Semkalo, 43, who said he had watched the planes from his kitchen window on Monday, and had seen one open fire after letting off a round of protective flares. “It’s a terror operation against their own people.” |
| The rounds killed five women who were standing in a group in front of the building, and three men. | The rounds killed five women who were standing in a group in front of the building, and three men. |