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| Gunfire Heard on Outskirts of Pro-Russian Enclave in Ukraine | Gunfire Heard on Outskirts of Pro-Russian Enclave in Ukraine |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| SLOVYANSK, Ukraine — Gunfire echoed around the outskirts of the pro-Russian stronghold of Slovyansk in eastern Ukraine on Monday, news reports said, as the interim president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, said roadblocks were being set up around the capital, Kiev, because of fears of “provocation” during an emotionally-charged holiday later in the week. | SLOVYANSK, Ukraine — Gunfire echoed around the outskirts of the pro-Russian stronghold of Slovyansk in eastern Ukraine on Monday, news reports said, as the interim president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, said roadblocks were being set up around the capital, Kiev, because of fears of “provocation” during an emotionally-charged holiday later in the week. |
| The intensity of the fighting seemed unclear as the Ukrainian military continued its push toward Slovyansk with limited attacks on at least two rebel-held positions in the city’s southeast. | The intensity of the fighting seemed unclear as the Ukrainian military continued its push toward Slovyansk with limited attacks on at least two rebel-held positions in the city’s southeast. |
| In Semyonovka, at least one rebel was injured. In Andreyevka, where Ukrainian forces took and subsequently withdrew from a bridge last week, shots were exchanged, but no casualties were reported. | In Semyonovka, at least one rebel was injured. In Andreyevka, where Ukrainian forces took and subsequently withdrew from a bridge last week, shots were exchanged, but no casualties were reported. |
| Arsen Avakov, the acting interior minister, told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that the flare-up began when pro-Russian militants ambushed government forces. | Arsen Avakov, the acting interior minister, told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that the flare-up began when pro-Russian militants ambushed government forces. |
| “In the morning, a squad in the antiterrorist operation was hit by an ambush by terrorist groups. They are using heavy weapons,” Mr. Avakov was quoted as saying from a checkpoint close to Slovyansk, using the Ukrainian government’s term for the separatists. He said there were fatalities, but he did not provide a death toll. | “In the morning, a squad in the antiterrorist operation was hit by an ambush by terrorist groups. They are using heavy weapons,” Mr. Avakov was quoted as saying from a checkpoint close to Slovyansk, using the Ukrainian government’s term for the separatists. He said there were fatalities, but he did not provide a death toll. |
| While the militants are holed up in official buildings in Slovyansk, Mr. Avakov said, “the only tactic is to advance little by little toward the center of Slovyansk.” | While the militants are holed up in official buildings in Slovyansk, Mr. Avakov said, “the only tactic is to advance little by little toward the center of Slovyansk.” |
| Agence France-Presse reported that the head of Ukraine’s national guard, Stepan Poltorak, was at the same checkpoint as Mr. Avakov, about four miles from the fighting. “We have bottled them up in the center” of Slovyansk, the national guard commander said, but he added that “our adversaries are well-trained and well-equipped.” | Agence France-Presse reported that the head of Ukraine’s national guard, Stepan Poltorak, was at the same checkpoint as Mr. Avakov, about four miles from the fighting. “We have bottled them up in the center” of Slovyansk, the national guard commander said, but he added that “our adversaries are well-trained and well-equipped.” |
| “They are doing all they can to make us resort to heavy weapons, but we won’t do that in order to spare the civilian population,” he was quoted as saying. | “They are doing all they can to make us resort to heavy weapons, but we won’t do that in order to spare the civilian population,” he was quoted as saying. |
| There were no further details, or independent corroboration, of the developments. For several days, forces loyal to the interim government in Kiev have been deployed as part of an effort to dislodge the pro-Russian militants who have taken control of key installations in several eastern cities. | |
| The crisis could worsen, Mr. Turchynov told Ukrainian television, on Friday, when Ukraine celebrates Victory Day, the 69th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. | |
| “War is in effect being waged against us, and we must be ready to repel this aggression,” Mr. Turchynov was quoted as saying, as he announced the plan to ring Kiev with roadblocks. | |
| The developments came a day after other Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine spun further out of the central government’s control. A mob stormed a police station in the Black Sea port of Odessa on Sunday and freed from detention 67 pro-Russian militants, on the same day that Ukraine’s prime minister was visiting the city. | The developments came a day after other Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine spun further out of the central government’s control. A mob stormed a police station in the Black Sea port of Odessa on Sunday and freed from detention 67 pro-Russian militants, on the same day that Ukraine’s prime minister was visiting the city. |
| At a news conference, the acting prime minister, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, criticized police officers, suggesting that they had been soliciting bribes at an outdoor market rather than trying to suppress pro-Russian rebels. Had they focused on their jobs, he said, “These terrorist organizations would have been foiled.” | At a news conference, the acting prime minister, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, criticized police officers, suggesting that they had been soliciting bribes at an outdoor market rather than trying to suppress pro-Russian rebels. Had they focused on their jobs, he said, “These terrorist organizations would have been foiled.” |