Military troops dead and injured after terrorist ambush

Heavy fights in the Ukrainian city of Slovyansk led to the death of five paramilitary police and wounded thirty of the military staff. On the other side, four separatists were killed while another 15 were injured.

Witnesses said that this was among the most violent fights they have seen so far as an estimated 800 pro-Russian fighters ambushed government troops and used heavy weaponry in battle: ‘An anti-terrorist operation led to an ambush of terrorists. They are using heavy machine guns and heavy weapons to engage in fighting with us,’ said Arsen Avakov, Ukrainian Interior Minister.

The separatists shot down another Ukrainian military helicopter but its crew survived after crashing into a river.

While the Ukrainian government accuses Russia of trying to overtake the country, Moscow, on the other hand, advises Kiev to ‘withdraw forces and sit down at the negotiating table to begin a normal dialogue about ways to resolve the political crisis.’