Published: 11:06PM Friday June 13, 2014 Source: AP
Ukraine's interior minister says that government troops have attacked pro-Russian separatists in the southern port of Mariupol.
Arsen Avakov said today that four government troops were wounded as forces retook buildings occupied by the rebels in the center of the town. He said troops destroyed a light armored vehicle used by the separatists.
The renewed fighting comes as rebel leaders confirmed they have three tanks. Ukrainian officials have said the tanks crossed from the Russian side of the porous border and were attacked by Ukrainian troops, but there has been no independent confirmation the tanks come from Russia.
Rebel leader Denis Pushilin told Russian state television the separatists, who call themselves the Donetsk People's Republic, have the tanks. He said it was 'improper to ask' where they had gotten them.
Entities 0 Name: Ukraine Count: 1 1 Name: Donetsk People 's Republic Count: 1 2 Name: Mariupol Count: 1 3 Name: Arsen Avakov Count: 1 4 Name: Denis Pushilin Count: 1 5 Name: Russia Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1mQN5sm Title: Pro-Russian rebels add tanks to arsenal in east Ukraine Description: SNIZHNYE Ukraine (Reuters) - Pro-Russian rebels in the eastern Ukrainian town of Snizhnye raised their fists in solidarity as tanks, fitted with camouflaged protective armour, rolled past, tearing up the pavement and scaring passers-by. The tanks drove off in a cloud of smoke to cheers from the rebels, circled one of the border town's central roundabouts and drove off to an unknown destination.
