Pro-Russians in Slavyansk open fire on Ukrainian security forces

On April 13, a source from The Wall Street Journal quoted the acting Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine as saying that pro-Russian protesters in the city of Slavyansk opened fire on Ukrainian security forces when they tried to retake a police station.

Pro-Russian gunmen seize a police station in Slavyansk. Photo: wsj.com

The incident occurred in a city about 60km north of the capital of Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine.

A day earlier, sources said separatist gunmen had seized a security service headquarters building in Slavyansk after seizing a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town earlier in the day.

Also on April 12, the Mayor of Slavyansk in Donetsk province, eastern Ukraine, publicly declared his opposition to the Kiev government and announced that most of the city's government headquarters had been occupied by protesters.

“I wrote to the acting prime minister of Ukraine three days ago, saying that it is time for negotiations,” said Slavyansk Mayor Nelly Shtepa. “Today, the whole of Slavyansk came out in support of the protesters. The Ukrainian flag on the government buildings was lowered and the Russian flag was raised.”

According to Vietnam+