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| Ukraine crisis: Sloviansk rebels down army helicopters | Ukraine crisis: Sloviansk rebels down army helicopters |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Pro-Russian rebels have shot down two of Ukraine's army helicopters during an "anti-terror" operation in the eastern city of Sloviansk, Kiev has said. | Pro-Russian rebels have shot down two of Ukraine's army helicopters during an "anti-terror" operation in the eastern city of Sloviansk, Kiev has said. |
| It said a pilot and serviceman had been killed, four suspected separatists held and 10 rebel checkpoints seized. | It said a pilot and serviceman had been killed, four suspected separatists held and 10 rebel checkpoints seized. |
| Half of the city was later declared "under control" of the Ukrainian units. | Half of the city was later declared "under control" of the Ukrainian units. |
| There has been no independent confirmation of the claim. Separatists at three checkpoints earlier told the BBC they were still in control there. | There has been no independent confirmation of the claim. Separatists at three checkpoints earlier told the BBC they were still in control there. |
| Russia said the use of the army by Kiev against its own people was "leading Ukraine to catastrophe". | Russia said the use of the army by Kiev against its own people was "leading Ukraine to catastrophe". |
| Describing the military operation as "punitive", the Russian foreign ministry also urged Western powers to give up their "destructive" policy on Ukraine. | Describing the military operation as "punitive", the Russian foreign ministry also urged Western powers to give up their "destructive" policy on Ukraine. |
| Sloviansk is a stronghold for pro-Russian separatists who are exerting increasing control in the region. | Sloviansk is a stronghold for pro-Russian separatists who are exerting increasing control in the region. |
| Local people could be seen standing in front of Ukrainian tanks, according to Paul Ronzheimer, a reporter with Germany's Bild newspaper in the city. | |
| Many told the soldiers to retreat, exclaiming "shoot us, we are separatists as well, just because we want to belong to Russia, shoot us", Mr Ronzheimer said. | |
| The BBC's Fergal Keane, at a bridge outside Sloviansk where there is a stand-off between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian locals, describes the atmosphere as tense and unpredictable. | The BBC's Fergal Keane, at a bridge outside Sloviansk where there is a stand-off between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian locals, describes the atmosphere as tense and unpredictable. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| 'Full combat alert' | 'Full combat alert' |
| Ukraine's anti-terror centre said in a statement that "half of the city" of Sloviansk was under control of its units at 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT). | Ukraine's anti-terror centre said in a statement that "half of the city" of Sloviansk was under control of its units at 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT). |
| It said pro-Russian gunmen were using snipers and also mobile units dressed in riot police uniforms. | It said pro-Russian gunmen were using snipers and also mobile units dressed in riot police uniforms. |
| Meanwhile, the commander of Ukraine's National Guard said his units "practically cleared Sloviansk from terrorists". | Meanwhile, the commander of Ukraine's National Guard said his units "practically cleared Sloviansk from terrorists". |
| Earlier, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the "active phase" of the operation in the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk region began at 04:30 local time. | Earlier, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the "active phase" of the operation in the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk region began at 04:30 local time. |
| "A real battle with professional mercenaries is going on," Mr Avakov said, adding that the separatists were using the tactics of hiding behind civilians in residential buildings. | "A real battle with professional mercenaries is going on," Mr Avakov said, adding that the separatists were using the tactics of hiding behind civilians in residential buildings. |
| Russia's state-run Rossiya 24 TV channel said the city was being "stormed". | Russia's state-run Rossiya 24 TV channel said the city was being "stormed". |
| It quoted Sloviansk's rebel commander Igor Strelkov as saying that the city was completely sealed off. | It quoted Sloviansk's rebel commander Igor Strelkov as saying that the city was completely sealed off. |
| The fighting appeared to be concentrating on the periphery of the city, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford, who is in the regional capital Donetsk. | The fighting appeared to be concentrating on the periphery of the city, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford, who is in the regional capital Donetsk. |
| In a video posted on YouTube, Sloviansk's self-declared mayor Vyacheslav Ponomaryov said "our city is under attack". | In a video posted on YouTube, Sloviansk's self-declared mayor Vyacheslav Ponomaryov said "our city is under attack". |
| He appealed to children, women and the elderly not to leave their homes. | He appealed to children, women and the elderly not to leave their homes. |
| Local residents were later quoted as saying that the situation in the city had calmed down but remained tense. | Local residents were later quoted as saying that the situation in the city had calmed down but remained tense. |
| Ukraine's acting president has said his forces are "helpless" in some parts of the east, and the country is now on full combat alert amid fears that Russian troops could invade. | Ukraine's acting president has said his forces are "helpless" in some parts of the east, and the country is now on full combat alert amid fears that Russian troops could invade. |
| Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population. It 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. It 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 ended in the early 1990s. | The crisis has plunged East-West relations to their lowest point since the Cold War ended in the early 1990s. |
| 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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