Ukraine: Kiev claims 300 rebels killed in the past 24 hours
Government forces pressed on with an offensive against pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine today, claiming they had inflicted heavy losses on the rebel side.
A spokesman for Kiev’s “anti-terrorist operation” said more than 300 rebel fighters had been killed and about 500 wounded in fierce fighting in the past 24 hours in and near the city of Slaviansk, a strategically-located separatist stronghold.
Separatist sources could not immediately be reached to give a casualty toll from yesterday’s fighting, in which government forces used aircraft, helicopters and artillery to try to root out separatists who have controlled Slaviansk since early April.