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| Ukraine forces move on pro-Russia rebel-held Sloviansk | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ukraine's government forces have begun an "anti-terror" operation in the eastern city of Sloviansk, Kiev says. | |
| Ukraine's interior minister said one helicopter pilot had been killed and other people wounded by anti-aircraft missile fire from pro-Russian rebels. | |
| However, separatists at three Sloviansk checkpoints have told the BBC there is no fighting in their sector. | |
| The city is a stronghold for pro-Russian separatists who are exerting increasing control in the region. | |
| News agencies report gunfire, explosions and a military helicopter firing on the outskirts. | |
| CJ Chivers, a New York Time journalist in the city, tweeted a short time ago that there was "very little gunfire in Sloviansk now". | |
| Russia's state-run Rossiya 24 TV channel earlier said the city was being "stormed". | |
| On Wednesday, Russia's foreign ministry warned that any storming would have "catastrophic consequences". | |
| Earlier, Ukraine's acting President Olexandr Turchynov reinstated military conscription to deal with deteriorating security in the east of the country. | |
| The move, announced in a decree, came as pro-Russia militants seized the regional prosecutor's office in the city of Donetsk, an industrial hub where a number of government offices have been seized in recent weeks. | The move, announced in a decree, came as pro-Russia militants seized the regional prosecutor's office in the city of Donetsk, an industrial hub where a number of government offices have been seized in recent weeks. |
| They forced their way into the building, stripped weapons and shields from police officers and raised the flag of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. | They forced their way into the building, stripped weapons and shields from police officers and raised the flag of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. |
| Ukraine blames Russia for organising the seizures of a number of offices in the east, a claim Moscow denies. | Ukraine blames Russia for organising the seizures of a number of offices in the east, a claim Moscow denies. |
| Some 40,000 Russian troops are stationed near the Ukrainian border. | Some 40,000 Russian troops are stationed near the Ukrainian border. |
| Mr Turchynov said his forces were "helpless" to quell the unrest in some parts of the east, saying the goal was now to prevent it from spreading. | |
| He also said Ukraine was on "full combat alert" amid fears that Russian troops could invade. | He also said Ukraine was on "full combat alert" amid fears that Russian troops could invade. |
| Monitors held | Monitors held |
| Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population and was a stronghold for President Viktor Yanukovych before he was overthrown by pro-Western protesters in February. | Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population and was a stronghold for President Viktor Yanukovych before he was overthrown by pro-Western protesters in February. |
| Russia then annexed the Crimean peninsula - part of Ukraine but with a Russian-speaking majority - in a move that provoked international outrage. | Russia then annexed the Crimean peninsula - part of Ukraine but with a Russian-speaking majority - in a move that provoked international outrage. |
| The crisis has plunged East-West relations to their lowest point since the Cold War. | The crisis has plunged East-West relations to their lowest point since the Cold War. |
| On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked Russia in a phone call to President Vladimir Putin to help free foreign monitors held in eastern Ukraine. | On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked Russia in a phone call to President Vladimir Putin to help free foreign monitors held in eastern Ukraine. |
| The military observers were seized by pro-Russia separatists at a checkpoint in the flashpoint town of Sloviansk last Friday. | The military observers were seized by pro-Russia separatists at a checkpoint in the flashpoint town of Sloviansk last Friday. |
| For his part, Mr Putin reiterated his call for Kiev to withdraw troops from the south-east to open the way for a national dialogue. | For his part, Mr Putin reiterated his call for Kiev to withdraw troops from the south-east to open the way for a national dialogue. |
| Mrs Merkel is due to meet US President Barack Obama in Washington on Friday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. | Mrs Merkel is due to meet US President Barack Obama in Washington on Friday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. |
| Are you in Sloviansk? Do you have any information to share? Send us your comments? You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Sloviansk'. | Are you in Sloviansk? Do you have any information to share? Send us your comments? You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Sloviansk'. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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