Casualties Reported as Ukraine Launches 'Anti-Terrorist' Effort

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A pro-Russian gunman stands guard at a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Sloviansk on Sunday, April 13, 2014.

Image: Efrem Lukatsky/Associated Press

By Jim Roberts2014-04-13 14:45:34 UTC

The takeover of Ukraine government buildings turned bloody Sunday, as government forces sought to retake a building seized by pro-Russian militants in the eastern city of Sloviansk.

Ukraine Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said one government security officer was killed and four were wounded in what he termed an "anti-terrorist" operation. "There were dead and wounded on both sides," Avakov said, according to Reuters.

See also: For Crimea, Google Shows Different Borders Based on Your Location

Sloviansk was one of at least five cities where armed pro-Russian separatists had taken over Ukraine government buildings and erected barricades in recent hours. Many of them wore camouflaged uniforms, and carried Kalashnikov rifles identical to those worn and carried by the pro-Russian forces who took control of Crimea a month ago.

Officials in Kiev and Washington said the moves appeared to be orchestrated by Russia, much like how Moscow moved against Crimea.

“We are very concerned by the concerted campaign we see underway in eastern Ukraine today by pro-Russian separatists, apparently with support from Russia, who are inciting violence and sabotage and seeking to undermine and destabilize the Ukrainian state,” Laura Lucas Magnuson, a National Security Council spokesperson, said in a statement. “We saw similar so-called protest activities in Crimea before Russia’s purported annexation. We call on President Putin and his government to cease all efforts to destabilize Ukraine.”

Clashes and bloodshed were also reported on Sunday in the eastern Ukraine city of Kharkiv, as pro-Ukraine and pro-Russia groups held rival demonstrations. Kyiv Post reported that at least three Ukraine supporters were severely beaten by pro-Russia activists.

According to the Post, the Russia supporters shouted at the the bloodied Ukraine supporters, “They are not humans!”

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Topics: US & World, World