RIA Novosti: Army Attacks Protesters in Eastern Ukraine, First Wounded Reported

GORLOVKA (Donetsk region), April 15 (RIA Novosti) – The Ukrainian army started on Tuesday a special operation in a crackdown on pro-federalism militia in eastern Ukraine, with reports emerging of first casualties among protesters.

The army operation has so far targeted the cities of Kramatorsk and Slaviansk in the Donetsk region, according to reports by protesters.

The city of Slaviansk is surrounded by troops supported by armored personnel carriers, the reports say.

“A lot of armed vehicles have been deployed around the city blocking all access, but no gunfire has been heard so far,” a militia spokesman told RIA Novosti.

At least two protesters were wounded in an army attack on an airfield between Kramatorsk and Slaviansk, another representative of pro-federalism militia said.

“There are some 60 armored vehicles there [at the airfie ld]. They have been preparing for days and now the attack has started,” the protester said.

“The protesters wouldn’t let them enter [the airfield] and they [the soldiers] started shooting, there are wounded [among the militia],” he said.

“Our people had to retreat,” he added.