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Ukraine crisis: 21 people reported killed in fighting at Mariupol police station Ukraine crisis: 'three people killed' in fighting at Mariupol police station
(35 minutes later)
Twenty-one people have died after Ukrainian government forces attacked the police headquarters in the south-eastern port city of Mariupol in an attempt to drive out pro-Russia militants who had seized the building, the interior minister has said. At least three people were killed as Ukrainian government forces attacked the occupied police headquarters in the south-eastern port city of Mariupol, according to medical authorities.
Government troops were attempting to drive out pro-Russia militants who had seized the building, the interior minister said.
Arsen Avakov said 20 "terrorists" had been killed and four captured in fighting around the building, which caught fire during the clashes. One policeman was killed and five wounded, he said in a Facebook post.Arsen Avakov said 20 "terrorists" had been killed and four captured in fighting around the building, which caught fire during the clashes. One policeman was killed and five wounded, he said in a Facebook post.
But medical authorities in Donetsk said three had been killed, and 25 wounded. Medical authorities in Donetsk, however, said three people had been killed and 25 wounded.
Mariupol, situated in the "People's Republic" declared by local pro-Russia rebels, has been the focus of days of skirmishing between Ukrainian police and separatist gunmen. The area is due to hold a referendum on secession on Sunday that Kiev has declared illegal.
A Guardian reporter in Mariupol saw two dead bodies, one a policeman and the other unidentifiable. A police station was completely destroyed, and had clearly been attacked with heavy calibre weapons, but it was not immediately clear who had fought with whom.A Guardian reporter in Mariupol saw two dead bodies, one a policeman and the other unidentifiable. A police station was completely destroyed, and had clearly been attacked with heavy calibre weapons, but it was not immediately clear who had fought with whom.
Mariupol, situated in the People's Republic declared by local pro-Russia rebels, has been the focus of days of skirmishing between Ukrainian police and separatist gunmen. The area is due to hold a referendum on secession on Sunday that Kiev has declared illegal.
One bystander said the Ukrainian army had moved on the police station believing that pro-Russia separatist forces had taken over the facility.One bystander said the Ukrainian army had moved on the police station believing that pro-Russia separatist forces had taken over the facility.
The mood in Mariupol remained extremely tense with fights breaking out between groups of drunk men.The mood in Mariupol remained extremely tense with fights breaking out between groups of drunk men.
The Ukrainian parliamentary deputy Oleh Lyashko said a Ukrainian police commander had been killed by a sniper and one had been wounded.The Ukrainian parliamentary deputy Oleh Lyashko said a Ukrainian police commander had been killed by a sniper and one had been wounded.
Tetyana Ignatchenko, a journalist in Mariupol, said Ukrainian forces had brought several armoured cars into the town, a major industrial and shipping centre with a population of about half a million.Tetyana Ignatchenko, a journalist in Mariupol, said Ukrainian forces had brought several armoured cars into the town, a major industrial and shipping centre with a population of about half a million.