Death toll rises in Ukraine firefights

Intensifying gun battles in eastern Ukraine between government forces and pro-Moscow rebels have killed several people and injured dozens, as Russia warned that the crisis could destroy peace in Europe and spark a humanitarian disaster.

The sound of gunfire and explosions rocked the militant stronghold of Slovyansk yesterday, as Ukrainian forces pushed deeper into the town and met fierce resistance from fast-moving groups of well-armed fighters.

The defence ministry reported that one of its attack helicopters had been shot down over the town by heavy machine gun fire, but that the crew survived. The rebels brought down two helicopters last week, killing two servicemen on board.

Officials said at least four members of Ukraine’s paramilitary police were killed and more than 30 hurt around Slovyansk yesterday, and representatives of the rebels said they had also suffered casualties, without giving numbers.

Anti-government demonstrators, often led by masked gunmen, seized official buildings in more than a dozen eastern towns in recent weeks in protest at pro-western leaders who ousted Viktor Yanukovich from the presidency and seek to turn Ukraine towards the west.

The protesters claim they are being ignored by the new government and are in danger from far-right elements among its support.

In the heavily industrial Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the rebels plan to hold a referendum on independence on Sunday, but it is doubtful whether they have enough control and resources to organise a credible plebiscite.

Kiev says Russia is whipping up fear and orchestrating the violence in the east, with the intention of destabilising Ukraine and wrecking plans for a May 25th presidential election that would strengthen the authority of the new government.

Interior minister Arsen Avakov said the fighting began in the morning, when "a squad in the anti-terrorist operation was hit by an ambush by terrorist groups. They are using heavy weapons."

Sharp exchanges
Both sides accused the other of endangering citizens' lives in Slovyansk, a rundown industrial town that is home to about 120,000 people.

Stepan Poltorak, the head of Ukraine's newly formed national guard, said "the enemy is provoking us and doing everything to make us use more powerful, more serious weapons, so as to cause victims among the civilian population".

Mr Avakov said Ukrainian forces “are not going to storm residential districts and will not attack areas where there is a civilian population”, accusing the rebels of using “human shields” and firing from apartment blocks.

Lieut Gen Poltorak also claimed to have received intelligence information that Chechen gunmen were fighting with the pro-Russian rebels, whom Kiev claims are organised by members of Moscow’s security services.

Great Patriotic War
Ukraine's leaders fear further destabilisation in other largely Russian-speaking eastern and southern areas in the run up to Friday's Victory Day holiday, which celebrates the Soviet Red Army's role in defeating fascist Germany.

President Vladimir Putin has threatened to invade Ukraine to protect Russian speakers if necessary. He annexed Crimea in March.

The foreign ministry in Moscow have given Mr Putin a report on alleged anti-Russian rights abuses in Ukraine and called for “an end to racism, xenophobia, ethnic intolerance, [and] the glorification of the Nazis” in the country.

“The alternative is fraught with such destructive consequences for Europe’s peace, stability and democratic development that it is absolutely necessary to prevent it,” warned the report.

With Russian troops allegedly massed near Ukraine’s borders, some Kiev and western officials suspect Mr Putin will deploy troops on a “peacekeeping” or “humanitarian” mission.

“A humanitarian disaster is brewing in the encircled town – there is already a lack of medicines and there are starting to be disruptions of food supplies,” the Russian foreign ministry said last night.