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Ukrainian special forces recaptured a small airport today that had been occupied by pro-Russian militias — the first action in its “anti-terrorist” operation in the east.
Heavy gunfire rang out at the airport near the town Kramatorsk.
Russian state television reported four to 11 people had been killed, though coup-installed president Oleksandr Turchynov didn’t say there had been any deaths.
Heavy military equipment and troops trundled into eastern Ukraine yesterday in anticipation of more clashes.
The armed pro-Russian militias were occupying government, police and other administrative buildings in at least nine cities in the Russian-speaking east of the country around the major industrial city of Donetsk.
The militants, who are demanding broader autonomy and closer ties with Russia, were given until Monday morning to clear out of occupied buildings.
Mr Turchynov announced this evening that the Kramatorsk airport had been secured.
“I’m convinced that there will not be any terrorists left soon in Donetsk and other regions and they will find themselves in the dock — this is where they belong,” he said.
But it is not clear that he will have any popular support for the crackdown.
Dramatic footage posted to YouTube today showed locals from Rodinskoye, in Donetsk region, stopping a tank allegedly on its way from Kiev.
Unarmed men asked the soldiers: “Who are you going to shoot at” while using their cars to block the tank.
Russian media claimed that members of fascist street gang Right Sector were among the troops.
Communist Party of Ukraine first secretary Petro Symonenko accused the Kiev government of launching a “war against its people.”
He said the “nationalist oligarchic” regime’s actions had been directed “solely at inciting national hatred, intimidation of dissidents, terror, arson and beatings.”
Mr Symonenko urged everyone to get behind the CPU’s initiative to immediately hold a referendum on the administrative and territorial structure of Ukraine and rights for local communities.
“This is the only way we will be able to maintain the integrity and unity of the country,” he said.
