Ukraine Troops Invade Eastern City of Slovyansk. Hundreds of Casualties Reported

Heavy Fighting as Ukraine Troops Invade Eastern City of Slovyansk

Hundreds of Casualties Reported in Continuing Clashes

by Jason Ditz, 

Overnight, Ukrainian troops backed by helicopter gunships attacked the village of Semenovka, and continued on to invade the major secessionist city of Slovyansk, in the eastern Donetsk Oblast.

This is the largest of several military attacks on Slovyansk, and met with heavy resistancefrom rebel fighters within, and significant fighting was reported throughout the day, continuinginto this evening with no signs of letting up.

Some Ukrainian officials were reporting “gains” of an unspecific nature, and claimed over 300 casualties on the rebel side alone. At least 2 Ukrainian troops were confirmed killed over 40 others wounded.

In the northwestern corner of Donetsk Oblast, Slovyansk and its neighboring city of Kramatorsk have been the primary focus of military operations against the eastern regions. The cities lie along the highway between Kharkiv, a major northern city, and Donetsk and Luhansk.

http://news.antiwar.com/2014/06/03/heavy-fighting-as-ukraine-troops-invade-eastern-city-of-slovyansk/