This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/02/pro-russion-rebels-killed-in-attack-on-east-ukraine-border-base

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ukraine: pro-Russian rebels killed attempting to storm border guard base Ukraine: pro-Russia rebels killed attempting to storm border guard base
(about 9 hours later)
At least five pro-Russia rebels were killed and another eight injured after they attempted to storm a military base in Ukraine close to the border with Russia.At least five pro-Russia rebels were killed and another eight injured after they attempted to storm a military base in Ukraine close to the border with Russia.
The separatists ambushed a guard post near the city of Luhansk early Monday morning. About 100 gunmen took part in the original offensive, with some firing rocket-propelled grenades from the roof of a nearby residential building.The separatists ambushed a guard post near the city of Luhansk early Monday morning. About 100 gunmen took part in the original offensive, with some firing rocket-propelled grenades from the roof of a nearby residential building.
The border guards returned fire. The battle raged for hours, with 400-500 rebels reinforcing the attack.The border guards returned fire. The battle raged for hours, with 400-500 rebels reinforcing the attack.
Dramatic video footage shows one rebel shot in the head, apparently by a government sniper. Another shows a wounded separatist crawling through a field of tall grass.Dramatic video footage shows one rebel shot in the head, apparently by a government sniper. Another shows a wounded separatist crawling through a field of tall grass.
Four government soldiers were critically injured and another seven hurt. Ukrainian jets eventually destroyed the rebels' equipment and positions, said Vladyslav Seleznyov, a government spokesman, according to the Kyiv Post.Four government soldiers were critically injured and another seven hurt. Ukrainian jets eventually destroyed the rebels' equipment and positions, said Vladyslav Seleznyov, a government spokesman, according to the Kyiv Post.
The fighting came as the Ukrainian military continued what Kiev calls an "anti-terrorist" operation designed to wipe out pro-Russia gunmen in the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. Both regions have declared independence from Ukraine and say they are now autonomous "people's republics".The fighting came as the Ukrainian military continued what Kiev calls an "anti-terrorist" operation designed to wipe out pro-Russia gunmen in the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. Both regions have declared independence from Ukraine and say they are now autonomous "people's republics".
Ukraine's president-elect, Petro Poroshenko, who will meet Barack Obama in Warsaw on Wednesday, has vowed to extinguish the rebellion using military means.Ukraine's president-elect, Petro Poroshenko, who will meet Barack Obama in Warsaw on Wednesday, has vowed to extinguish the rebellion using military means.
His government says Russia is secretly sending armed men across the border, including volunteers from Chechnya. The Kremlin – which denies involvement and has called for peace talks – is using its intelligence agencies to coordinate the anti-Kiev insurgency, Poroshenko says.His government says Russia is secretly sending armed men across the border, including volunteers from Chechnya. The Kremlin – which denies involvement and has called for peace talks – is using its intelligence agencies to coordinate the anti-Kiev insurgency, Poroshenko says.
Russia on Monday called an emergency session of the UN security council to vote on a Russian motion calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine. The US and Ukraine dismissed the move, saying the Kremlin already had the power to stop pro-Russia fighters and weapons flooding into Ukraine but was doing nothing.
The US treasury secretary, Jacob Lew, said Washington was prepared to push for tougher economic sanctions against Russia at a G7 summit in Brussels on Thursday. Moscow was still trying to destabilise its western neighbour, Lew said. "There is evidence that Russia continues to allow the free flow of weapons, funds and fighters across its borders and president Putin's next steps are still not clear."The US treasury secretary, Jacob Lew, said Washington was prepared to push for tougher economic sanctions against Russia at a G7 summit in Brussels on Thursday. Moscow was still trying to destabilise its western neighbour, Lew said. "There is evidence that Russia continues to allow the free flow of weapons, funds and fighters across its borders and president Putin's next steps are still not clear."
He added that president Obama "has given us the authority to take even more powerful action if Russia continues to support armed separatists in eastern Ukraine."He added that president Obama "has given us the authority to take even more powerful action if Russia continues to support armed separatists in eastern Ukraine."
At least two people were killed on Monday in an explosion in Luhansk's regional administration, one of a string of official buildings occupied by separatists since April.At least two people were killed on Monday in an explosion in Luhansk's regional administration, one of a string of official buildings occupied by separatists since April.
The rebels insisted a Ukrainian jet had dropped a bomb on their HQ. But video footage suggests the explosion came from inside the building , with a plume of smoke coming from a fourth-floor office and billowing horizontally into the next-door park. Kiev officials said rebels had let off a rocket-propelled grenade by mistake while trying to shoot down the jet.The rebels insisted a Ukrainian jet had dropped a bomb on their HQ. But video footage suggests the explosion came from inside the building , with a plume of smoke coming from a fourth-floor office and billowing horizontally into the next-door park. Kiev officials said rebels had let off a rocket-propelled grenade by mistake while trying to shoot down the jet.
Meanwhile, Vladislav Seleznyov, the press secretary for Ukraine's operation against the rebels in the east, said the attack on the Luhansk border post may have been an attempt to disrupt communications. Seleznyov also said there had been another rebel attack on Monday on a government checkpoint in Slavyansk, a city in the Donetsk region that has been a centre of the pro-Russia movement.Meanwhile, Vladislav Seleznyov, the press secretary for Ukraine's operation against the rebels in the east, said the attack on the Luhansk border post may have been an attempt to disrupt communications. Seleznyov also said there had been another rebel attack on Monday on a government checkpoint in Slavyansk, a city in the Donetsk region that has been a centre of the pro-Russia movement.
He said rebels had laid mines at a number of power stations in Slavyansk, which he claimed would be detonated if the government moved on the city.He said rebels had laid mines at a number of power stations in Slavyansk, which he claimed would be detonated if the government moved on the city.
In the regional capital, Donetsk city, gunmen from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic entered the office of the local newspaper on Monday and took away its editor, Leonid Lapa, his deputy Valery Lapshin told the Associated Press. The gunmen said they were taking the Vecherniy Donetsk editor in for questioning.In the regional capital, Donetsk city, gunmen from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic entered the office of the local newspaper on Monday and took away its editor, Leonid Lapa, his deputy Valery Lapshin told the Associated Press. The gunmen said they were taking the Vecherniy Donetsk editor in for questioning.
For weeks, Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine has been the scene of deadly clashes between government troops and pro-Russian insurgents.For weeks, Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine has been the scene of deadly clashes between government troops and pro-Russian insurgents.
Many in Ukraine's east are suspicious of the new pro-west government in Kiev, which came to power when the pro-Russia president, Viktor Yanukovych, fled the country in February after months of street protests in Kiev.Many in Ukraine's east are suspicious of the new pro-west government in Kiev, which came to power when the pro-Russia president, Viktor Yanukovych, fled the country in February after months of street protests in Kiev.
Protests in the east demanding greater independence from the Ukrainian capital soon turned into a separatist movement as the Luhansk and Donetsk regions declared independence after hastily called referendums.Protests in the east demanding greater independence from the Ukrainian capital soon turned into a separatist movement as the Luhansk and Donetsk regions declared independence after hastily called referendums.
The conflict between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russia insurgents escalated markedly in the past week, with rebels attempting to seize a major airport and the shooting-down of a Ukrainian military helicopter.The conflict between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russia insurgents escalated markedly in the past week, with rebels attempting to seize a major airport and the shooting-down of a Ukrainian military helicopter.
In Moscow on Monday, the Russian defence ministry announced a military exercise involving the launch of high-precision missiles. In Moscow on Monday the Russian defence ministry announced a military exercise involving the launch of high-precision missiles.
The ministry said the manoeuvres of the western military district would continue through Thursday and would involve the deployment of Iskander surface-to-surface missiles.The ministry said the manoeuvres of the western military district would continue through Thursday and would involve the deployment of Iskander surface-to-surface missiles.
Moscow did not specify the areas where the exercise would be held and made no mention of the situation in Ukraine.Moscow did not specify the areas where the exercise would be held and made no mention of the situation in Ukraine.