Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov warned Kiev against using force
Armed pro-Russian men occupying the police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk can be seen carrying riot shields. (Photo: AFP)
Izyum (Ukraine): An armoured column and buses filled with Ukrainian special forces stood on Tuesday on a road leading to the eastern city of Slavyansk where pro-Kremlin gunmen had seized government buildings.
An AFP reporter said the column of 20 tanks and armoured personnel carriers was positioned in Izyum, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of the city and flying the Ukrainian flag.
The convoy included seven buses filled with about 100 special forces and paratroopers who had set up a checkpoint on the road and were inspecting all vehicles moving toward Slavyansk.
Ukraine’s Western-backed leaders had earlier on Tuesday announced the launch of a “full-scale anti-terrorist operation” in the separatist region.
A source in Ukraine's interior ministry said a unit of the newly-formed National Guard was currently positioned near Izyum.
One of the paratroopers said that the unit was sent to support interior ministry soldiers for an operation who were in charge of the area.
( Source : AFP )
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