Kiev Govt. orders loyal mlitary units to attack

[Reality Check]

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(Kiev government) Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said one Ukrainian pilot had been killed, and other people wounded. Nine rebel checkpoints had been seized, he said.

However, separatists at three Sloviansk checkpoints told the BBC they were still in control there.

Pro-Russian gunmen have shot down at least two helicopters, reportedly capturing one pilot.

The fighting appears to be concentrating on the periphery of the city, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in the regional capital Donetsk.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27250026

Vyacheslav Ponomarev, the separatist-appointed mayor of Slavyansk, said self-defense forces had shot down two helicopters, killing one pilot and capturing the other. He said no Ukrainian troops could be seen in the city.

The official spokesman for the military wing of the pro-Russian forces, who will give only his first name, Vladislav, said fighting had broken out at several points around the city. He said government armored vehicles were seen on roads leading into Slavyansk and claimed that Ukrainian troops had made incursions into the city itself.

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Trucks were parked sideways to block the road leading into Slavyansk from Kramatorsk to the south.

An Associated Press cameraman saw black plumes of smoke on the edge of the city. An emergency siren sounded at dawn.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/blasts-gunf ... aine-town/

Ukrainian troops launched a dawn raid to try to retake the rebel stronghold of Slaviansk on Friday, surrounding the eastern town and sending in military helicopters, one of which was shot down by pro-Russian rebels, killing its pilot.

Accusing the pro-Moscow separatists of using mercenaries, ( Kiev government ) Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the offensive was answered with heavy artillery, with the rebels using grenade and portable anti-aircraft missile launchers to bring down the plane.

Describing the offensive as "the active phase of the anti-terrorist operation", Avakov said its goals were simple - "free the hostages, lay down their arms and free administrative buildings, and restore the normal functioning of the town's administration".

"Against Ukraine's special forces, terrorists used heavy artillery, including grenade launchers and portable anti-aircraft missile launchers. One pilot is dead and there are wounded," he posted on his Facebook page.

Pro-Russian separatists in Slaviansk, the eastern Ukrainian ( city ) where the rebels are most firmly in control, described the operation as "large-scale", and said they had taken one pilot prisoner.


The fighting began at 4 a.m. (0100 GMT), officials and local residents said. Ukrainian troops could be in seen in armoured personnel carriers in a southern suburb of Slaviansk.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.588627
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