Rebels Shoot Down Ukraine Helicopters; 3 Killed in Odessa
by VOA News May 02, 2014
The Ukrainian army launched a major assault on the Pro-Russian stronghold of Slovyansk early Friday, leading to the heaviest fighting since the separatist uprising began last month.
During the assault, separatists shot down two Ukraine helicopters, killing at least two crew members. A third helicopter crew member was reportedly captured by separatist forces and transferred to a local hospital.
Acting Ukraine President Oleksandr Turchynov later said two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and seven wounded in Friday's clashes and the insurgents suffered significant losses, including many killed and injured. It was not clear if the two referred to the helicopter crew, the Associated Press reported.
Separatists said Ukrainian forces killed three of their fighters and two civilians when they moved in on Slovyansk in the early hours, but that the troops had only taken five checkpoints from the rebels.
President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said Ukrainian forces had fired on civilians from the air in Slovyansk in a 'punitive operation' that destroyed an international peace plan.
In the largely Russian-speaking southern port of Odessa, three people were shot and killed and 15 wounded in clashes between supporters of Ukrainian unity and pro-Russian activists, police said.
UN Security Council
The United Nations Security Council on Friday was holding its 13th emergency meeting on the growing crisis in Ukraine at the request of Russia, whose ambassador Vitaly Churkin demanded a 'swift halt of all violence.'
But Western powers on the council accused Russia of equipping and funding the pro-Russia forces that have seized government buildings in 10 eastern cities.
The prospect for any council action on the crisis in Ukraine is highly unlikely. Russia holds veto power as a permanent council member.
Obama, Merkel meet
U.S. President Barack Obama warned on Friday that If Moscow continues fueling unrest in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin and others in his leadership circle will face increasingly broad sanctions.
During a joint news conference at the White House Rose Garden, Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said they want to see a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
Otherwise, Obama and Merkel warned Russia that if it further destabilizes Ukraine or interferes in Ukraine's May 25 presidential elections, it will face more sanctions.
Earlier Friday, the Western-backed government in Kyiv said the use of missiles that brought down its helicopters was evidence that Russian forces were in the town. Moscow denies that its troops are on the ground.
Ukraine's Turchynov said Russian ``armed saboteurs'' had tried to cross into the country overnight, but were pushed back by Ukrainian border troops. He gave no further details.
Russia's Security Service said his report was untrue.
Turchynov said the military operation had been complicated by the rebels' use of human shields and had not progressed as quickly as had been hoped.
By early afternoon Friday, military operations in and around Slovyansk appeared to have ceased, leaving the region in a state of tension and Ukrainian and separatist forces facing off near a strategic bridge that was under government control. The Ukrainians did not seem eager to engage the militants, limiting their activities to tightening a cordon around the city of 130,000, the New York Times reported.
The growing chaos is overshadowing a presidential election the pro-Western leadership in Kyiv is planning for May 25. The rebels are planning a vote on May 11 to seek a mandate to break with Kyiv, like one held in Crimea before Moscow took it over.
EU response
The European Union said it was watching events in eastern Ukraine with growing concern. But Kyiv is not a member of NATO and Western leaders have made clear they will not fight to defend Ukraine.
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said NATO's European members needed to increase their defense spending in light of Russia's action in Ukraine.
Hagel said one of the biggest obstacles to investment in defense was the sense that the prospect of conflict among nations had dissipated with the end of the Cold War.
'Russia's actions in Ukraine shatter that myth and usher in bracing new realities,' he said, speaking about the future of the NATO alliance at the Wilson Center in Washington on Friday.
'Over the long term, we should expect Russia to test our alliance's purpose, stamina, and commitment,' Hagel said.
Earlier Friday, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said in a statement that two Mi-24 attack helicopters had been shot down by shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles while on patrol overnight around Slovyansk. Two airmen were killed and others wounded.
A third helicopter, an Mi-8 transport aircraft, was also hit and a serviceman wounded, the Defense Ministry said. Ukrain'e Secret Security Service said this helicopter was carrying medics.
Ukrainian officials said their troops overran rebel checkpoints and Slovyansk was now 'tightly encircled.'
Some information in this report was contributed by Reuters, AP.
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