Pro-Ukraine forces clash with separatists near Donetsk

Some soldiers were wounded after armed pro-Russian separatists ambushed a convoy of Ukrainian self-defence fighters near Donetsk.

15:03 23 May 2014

Two days before the presidential election, a convoy of Ukrainian self-defence fighters was ambushed by armed pro-Russian separatists near Ukraine’s eastern city of Donetsk. Military sources confirmed that there were some soldiers who were wounded. No exact figure was given.

 

Semen Semenchenko, the commander of a pro-Ukrainian militia group, posted on Facebook and said: "They (the separatists) are using automatic weapons, snipers and grenade launchers against the battalion.” 

 

Meanwhile, the commander of pro-Ukrainian self-defence forces, Yuri Bereza headed to the scene and told Reuters by telephone: "The fighting is still going on, we are evacuating the wounded." 

 

On Thursday, rebel gunmen killed at least 13 Ukrainian servicemen in a firefight south of Donetsk, an industrial hub that was declared as “people’s republic” by the separatists.