Ukrainians flee fearing revenge attack
Ukrainians fleeing for their lives have flooded highways and packed trains leading out of remaining pro-Russia strongholds as Kyiv intensifies military operations.
Thousands of panicking civilians flooded the highways and train stations leading out of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine on Saturday, fearing a reprisal assault as Kyiv government troops moved closer to the city.
According to Ukrainian military sources, pro-Russia forces launched an attack on a border post at Zelenopillya in Ukraine’s easternmost Lugansk region, killing 23 government troops and injuring another 100 others.
Ukraine’s western backed President Petro Poroshenko vowed to “find and destroy” the pro-Russia forces responsible.
“The rebels will pay for the life of every one of our servicemen with tens and hundreds of their own,” he said.
“Not a single terrorist will avoid responsibility,” he added.
Earlier on Saturday, Ukraine said it had killed around one thousand pro-Russian protesters while bombing their positions near the restive eastern city of Donetsk.
Pro-Russian protesters deny the death tally, saying that Kyiv forces are using outdated intelligence in relation to the self-defense forces’ deployment positions.
Ukraine’s mainly Russian-speaking parts in the east have witnessed deadly clashes between pro-Russia activists and the Ukrainian army since the government in Kyiv launched military operations in mid-April in a bid to crush the pro-Russia protests.
Violence intensified in May after the Donetsk and Lugansk regions held local referendums, in which their residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence from Ukraine.
Hundreds of people have been killed in the ongoing military campaign in Ukraine, which has also forced tens of thousands to escape to Russia.
SRK/NN