Over 30 killed in raid on Slavyansk: Kyiv
Death toll from a military assault on Ukraine’s eastern flashpoint city of Slavyansk has passed 30, authorities in Kyiv say.
Ukraine interim Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said Tuesday that more than 30 pro-Russia protesters were killed and dozens of others injured during the military operation near Slavyansk a day earlier.
Avakov added that four Ukrainian troops were killed and another 20 were injured.
In addition, an army helicopter was shot down during the assault on the flashpoint town. The helicopter pilots survived the attack.
During the raid, the pro-Russia protesters had to retreat to the center of the city, which remains sealed off by Ukrainian troops.
Slavyansk came under siege on May 4 after Ukraine’s military blocked off the main road to the city and set up army checkpoints.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials suspended on Tuesday all flights in and out of the eastern city of Donetsk without giving any reason. An airport spokeswoman said there was also no information about how long the closure would last.
Pro-Moscow protesters continue to occupy a number of government, police and other administrative buildings in many cities and towns in the region, demanding integration into neighboring Russia.
On April 23, Ukraine’s acting government re-launched its military operation in the eastern and southern regions in a bid to root out the pro-Russia demonstrations.
The re-launch came despite an April 17 Geneva agreement signed by Kyiv’s interim government together with the United States, Russia and the European Union, calling for all sides to ease crisis in eastern Ukraine.
CAH/HSN/HRB