Interfax: Roadblocks attacked on outskirts of Slovyansk, cell phone services disrupted – Donetsk region self-defense forces

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MOSCOW. April 24 (Interfax) – The self-defense forces of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region claim that their roadblocks came under fire on the outskirts of Slovyansk on Thursday.

They have also reported disruptions to cell phone services in Slovyansk.

“About 40 minutes ago, an armed clash erupted on the outskirts of Slovyansk. Reports of one fatality and one injured perso n are being verified. Other roadblocks located near the exits from the city have been attacked as well,” a leader of the Donetsk region self-defense forces, Miroslav Rudenko, told Interfax.

“At the moment it is very difficult to reach our militia members on their cell phones. A “combat situation” has emerged in the city. I do not rule out that cell phone services could have been cut off,” Rudenko said.

The mobile phone numbers of Slovyansk self-defense force leaders are currently inaccessible.

The Rossiya 24 television station has reported that Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers are engaged in a slow onslaught on Slovyansk.

“Armored hardware and special operations units can now be seen literally ten kilometers from the city,” a TV channel correspondent reported from the site.

The Ukrainian soldiers are using armored personnel carriers under the cover provided by special operations units, the correspondent said.

“Special o perations forces are entering the city with the support of helicopters. Roadsides have been mined, and snipers are providing a cover for the special operations forces. They [snipers] are present there as well,” he said.

 

 

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