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| Ukrainian troops launch Slavyansk assault, reports say | Ukrainian troops launch Slavyansk assault, reports say |
| (5 months later) | |
| Ukrainian government forces were on Friday said to be conducting operations around the city of Slavyansk in the country's east, with pro-Russia separatists claiming a "large-scale" assault to retake the town was under way. A Reuters photographer said he saw a military helicopter open fire on the outskirts of the town and a reporter heard gunfire. Fighting was being reported at checkpoints. | |
| In Kiev an aide to the Ukrainian interior minister, Arsen Avakov, said he could not comment. "Until it's over no one will say anything," he said. | In Kiev an aide to the Ukrainian interior minister, Arsen Avakov, said he could not comment. "Until it's over no one will say anything," he said. |
| Vyacheslav Ponomarev, regarded by the pro-Russia insurgents as mayor of Slavyansk, said two helicopters were shot down and a pilot taken hostage. Details could not be independently confirmed. | Vyacheslav Ponomarev, regarded by the pro-Russia insurgents as mayor of Slavyansk, said two helicopters were shot down and a pilot taken hostage. Details could not be independently confirmed. |
| Slavyansk is 100 miles (160km) west of Russia. Seven European observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe remain held by pro-Russia gunmen in the city. | Slavyansk is 100 miles (160km) west of Russia. Seven European observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe remain held by pro-Russia gunmen in the city. |
| Armed groups seeking union with Russia have seized a number of government buildings in towns in eastern Ukraine. | Armed groups seeking union with Russia have seized a number of government buildings in towns in eastern Ukraine. |
| Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, on Thursday called for Ukrainian troops to pull out of the south-east in a conversation with Angela Merkel. | Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, on Thursday called for Ukrainian troops to pull out of the south-east in a conversation with Angela Merkel. |
| The Russian president said military withdrawal, an end to violence and a national dialogue were the key issues in Ukraine, according to a Kremlin briefing on the phone conversation. | The Russian president said military withdrawal, an end to violence and a national dialogue were the key issues in Ukraine, according to a Kremlin briefing on the phone conversation. |
| A spokesman for Merkel said the focus of the call had been the German chancellor asking for Putin's assistance in freeing seven observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe who are being held by pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin said Merkel initiated the call. | A spokesman for Merkel said the focus of the call had been the German chancellor asking for Putin's assistance in freeing seven observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe who are being held by pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin said Merkel initiated the call. |
| A crowd of pro-Russians hurling rocks and Molotov cocktails took control of the prosecutor's office in Donetsk on Thursday as Kiev's hold on the east continued to ebb away. | A crowd of pro-Russians hurling rocks and Molotov cocktails took control of the prosecutor's office in Donetsk on Thursday as Kiev's hold on the east continued to ebb away. |
| Several of the 100 police officers guarding the building were injured and in some cases severely beaten as they were stripped of their weapons and shields. The pro-Russians hoisted the Russian flag, barricaded the front door and burned Ukrainian symbols in the street. | Several of the 100 police officers guarding the building were injured and in some cases severely beaten as they were stripped of their weapons and shields. The pro-Russians hoisted the Russian flag, barricaded the front door and burned Ukrainian symbols in the street. |
| The Russian foreign ministry said earlier on Thursday that a proposal from Ukraine's prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, to hold a poll on Ukrainian unity and territorial integrity was a sham that would only deepen the crisis in the country. | The Russian foreign ministry said earlier on Thursday that a proposal from Ukraine's prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, to hold a poll on Ukrainian unity and territorial integrity was a sham that would only deepen the crisis in the country. |
| On Wednesday Yatsenyuk said the Kiev government would send to parliament a law on conducting the nationwide poll on 25 May, when the country is also due to hold a presidential election. | On Wednesday Yatsenyuk said the Kiev government would send to parliament a law on conducting the nationwide poll on 25 May, when the country is also due to hold a presidential election. |
| The Russian foreign ministry said the plans were "cynical" given what it said was Kiev's military operation against "its own people". | The Russian foreign ministry said the plans were "cynical" given what it said was Kiev's military operation against "its own people". |