Kramatorsk: some reportedly killed in fight between federalization supporters and Ukrainian security forces
3 May 2014, 14:00 -- A fight is under way between federalization supporters and Ukrainian security forces in Kramatorsk, reports about fatalities are being checked, the Donbas self-defense headquarters told Interfax. 'The security operation in Kramatorsk has resumed, snipers controled by the Kiev government have occupied multi-storey buildings and are firing from there. In addition, there is fighting on the town streets, involving the use of various weapons,' the source said. Some people have been killed in the clashes, he said.
'They are mainly civilians, who happened to be near the scene of fighting,' he said. The Ukrainian authorities were not immediately available to confirm reports about fatalities.
The Ukrainian interior minister said earlier that Ukrainian forces continue the operation in Kramatorsk despite militiamen's resistance.
'We are advancing in Kramatorsk' against dense fire, Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote on Facebook a few minutes ago. 'A battle is under way,' he wrote.
Avakov asked all people in Kramatorsk and Slovyansk 'not to appear in the streets.'
Earlier the minister said government forces had destroyed two checkpoints near the Kramatorsk airport and regained control over the television tower.
Fighting between Kiev's armed units and self-defense forces is underway in Kramatorsk - reports
Ukrainian security forces continue the operation in Kramatorsk despite resistance from militiamen. 'We are advancing in Kramatorsk' against dense fire, Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote on Facebook a few minutes ago.
'A battle is under way,' he wrote. Avakov asked all people in Kramatorsk and Slovyansk 'not to appear in the streets.'
Earlier the minister said government forces had destroyed two checkpoints near the Kramatorsk airport and regained control over the television tower.
Donetsk region targeted Friday by large-scale military operation announces mobilization
The Donetsk region, targeted Friday by a large-scale military operation involving aviation and armored vehicles, has ordered mobilization and is forming people's resistance movement, the commissar of the Eastern Front movement told RIA Novosti Saturday.
'Donetsk is mobilizing today, full mobilization has been declared. Our security services are ready for full-scale military actions,' Nikolai Solntsev said adding that people were currently gathering at the square.
'We will mobilize our people today in the united people's resistance movement, so that every citizen of the city could struggle for freedom,' Solntsev stressed.
Ukrainian military forces launched early Friday a full-scale assault on the eastern city of Slavyansk in the Donetsk region, the focal point of pro-federalization rallies.
Casualties were reported. Moscow condemned the recent outbreak of violence in the country and called the military operation initiated by Kiev authorities a punitive action which destroyed the last hope for the Geneva accords.
Kiev intends to continue active phase of special operations in East - Ukraine's Interior Ministry
Kiev authorities have no intentions of stopping the active phase of special operations near the eastern city of Kramatorsk and operations will begin again at sunrise, acting Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said Saturday. 'The active phase of the operation will continue at sunrise. We won't stop,' Avakov said on his Facebook page Saturday morning.
He also said that a television tower in Kramatorsk was retaken during the night in an operation by the National Guard and military forces.
On Friday evening a battle broke out on the outskirts of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region after a column of Ukrainian armored vehicles, blocked earlier by civilians, decided to go on the offensive.
The soldiers, who had lost their patience, began firing their guns into the air, and then at the local residents who were attempting to stop them from shooting.
According to preliminary information, nine people were injured and one died of inflicted wounds.
Night battle for Kramatorsk over, sides counting losses
The evening battle for Kramatorsk in Ukraine's southeast has ended, leaving one defender of the city dead and nine others wounded, RIA Novosti reports.
According to the agency's source, the Ukrainian army column was unable to enter the city.
Hostilities broke out in the Yasnogorka area on Friday evening. The Ukrainian armor column blocked by civilians the day defore, decided to go on a break.
'They were afraid that we would take away their weapons or armored vehicles,' said one of the locals. There is no information about the losses in the Ukrainian army yet.
During the battle in Kramatorsk civil alert sirens were turned on, which hadn't happened in the morning, during the fight in the city of Slavyansk, 12 km from Kramatorsk. Eyewitnesses also reported that Ukrainian soldiers captured one of the militia checkpoints between Slavyansk and Kramatorsk during the day.
It is reported that there will be no public transportation between the cities and within Kramatorsk tomorrow. No buses will be provided for workers from local factories, even though they have a continuous cycle of production. People finishing the night shift will have to go home by foot.
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