Tensions in Ukraine Fierce fighting in Slavyansk, Ukrainian pilot killed

The Russian news agency RIA Novosti on May 2 quoted the Ukrainian Defense Ministry as saying that two Mi-24 helicopters of the army were shot down in the town of Slavyansk while an Mi-8 was damaged and forced to land. The ministry said that two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and many others were injured.

Itar-Tass news agency quoted a source from the local self-defense force as saying that a gunman of this force was also killed.

Earlier, on his Facebook account, Ukraine's acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov announced that a pilot was killed and many others were injured after local self-defense forces in the town of Slavyansk used anti-aircraft missiles to attack forces of the pro-Western government in Kiev.

"Against the Ukrainian special forces, terrorists used heavy artillery, including grenade launchers and mobile anti-aircraft missile launchers. One pilot was killed and several were injured," Mr. Avakov confirmed.

On May 2, the Ukrainian army launched a “large-scale operation” to retake the town from local self-defense forces.

Local self-defense forces have now seized a number of government buildings in several towns in eastern Ukraine.

Slavyansk is considered a stronghold of local self-defense forces supporting federalization. The pro-Western government in Kiev has launched many attacks on this town but has not been effective./.

According to VNA