Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BYLBASIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — The self-proclaimed mayor of Slovyansk in eastern Ukraine is appealing to Russia to send in peacekeeping troops after a shootout at checkpoint near the city manned by pro-Russia insurgents.
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry says three people died in the attack and three others were wounded. The statement says some of the attackers were also killed or wounded, but the ministry did not have a number.
Russia is blaming militant Ukrainian nationalists for the incident while the Ukrainian government says it was staged by provocateurs from outside the country.
The armed clash appears to be the first since an international agreement was reached last week in Geneva to ease tensions in eastern Ukraine, where armed pro-Russia activists have seized government buildings in at least 10 cities.
Ukraine and many in the West fear that clashes such as today's could provide a pretext for Russia to seize more Ukrainian territory.
%@AP Links
113-q-11-(Sergey Kislyak (KIHS'-lee-ak), Russia's ambassador to the U.S., in interview)-"these issues themselves"-Russia's ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak was asked about his interpretation of the international agreement that was reached last week in Geneva. COURTESY: 'Fox News Sunday' ((mandatory on-air credit)) (20 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *113 (04/20/14)££ 00:11 "these issues themselves"
112-a-14-(Arseniy Yatsenyuk (ar-SEHN'-ee yaht-sehn-YOOK'), Prime Minister of Ukraine, in interview)-"and independent state"-Ukranian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says Ukraine can solve its internal problems without meddling from Russia. COURTESY: NBC's 'Meet the Press' ((mandatory on-air credit)) (20 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *112 (04/20/14)££ 00:14 "and independent state"
109-a-05-(Arseniy Yatsenyuk (ar-SEHN'-ee yaht-sehn-YOOK'), Prime Minister of Ukraine, in interview)-"the Soviet Union"-Ukranian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says President Putin intends to make Ukraine part of Russia. COURTESY: NBC's 'Meet the Press' ((mandatory on-air credit)) (20 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *109 (04/20/14)££ 00:05 "the Soviet Union"
115-a-09-(Sergey Kislyak (KIHS'-lee-ak), Russia's ambassador to the U.S., in interview)-"to be disarmed"-Russia's ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak says both Russia and Ukraine need to abide by the international agreement that was reached last week in Geneva. COURTESY: 'Fox News Sunday' ((mandatory on-air credit)) (20 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *115 (04/20/14)££ 00:09 "to be disarmed"
111-a-13-(Arseniy Yatsenyuk (ar-SEHN'-ee yaht-sehn-YOOK'), Prime Minister of Ukraine, in interview)-"need real support"-Ukranian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says his nation needs help to stop Russia. COURTESY: NBC's 'Meet the Press' ((mandatory on-air credit)) (20 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *111 (04/20/14)££ 00:13 "need real support"
108-a-18-(Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov (oh-lehk-SAN'-dur tur-CHEE'-nawv), in statement for media)-"of President Putin"-Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov says he believes Russian President Putin is acting out a decades-old plan. (20 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *108 (04/20/14)££ 00:18 "of President Putin"
107-a-14-(Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov (oh-lehk-SAN'-dur tur-CHEE'-nawv), in statement for media)-"the final destination"-Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov says Russia's leader had a long-term goal in mind when he moved to annex Crimea, and as Pro-Russia activity ignited in eastern Ukraine. (20 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *107 (04/20/14)££ 00:14 "the final destination"
APPHOTO GFX2043: Map locates village in eastern Ukraine where a shootout left one person dead and several others injured.; 2c x 3 inches; 96.3 mm x 76 mm; (20 Apr 2014)
<<APPHOTO GFX2043 (04/20/14)££
APPHOTO XEL110: An airborne tank of pro-Russian insurgents take position in the center of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, April 20, 2014. Pro-Russian insurgents defiantly refused to surrender their weapons or give up government buildings in eastern Ukraine, despite a diplomatic accord reached in Geneva and overtures from the government in Kiev. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (20 Apr 2014)
<<APPHOTO XEL110 (04/20/14)££
APPHOTO XEL104: A pro-Russian gunman watches a local police officer, right, as he inspects the area after a night fight at the check point which was under the control of pro-Russian activists in the village of Bulbasika near Slovyansk, Ukraine, Sunday, April 20, 2014. At least one person was killed in the clash. Pro-Russian insurgents defiantly refused to surrender their weapons or give up government buildings in eastern Ukraine, despite a diplomatic accord reached in Geneva and overtures from the government in Kiev. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (20 Apr 2014)
<<APPHOTO XEL104 (04/20/14)££
APPHOTO XEL105: Local police officers inspect burnt-out cars after a night fight at the check point which is under the control of pro-Russian activists in the village of Bulbasika near Slovyansk, Ukraine, Sunday, April 20, 2014. At least one person was killed. Pro-Russian insurgents defiantly refused to surrender their weapons or give up government buildings in eastern Ukraine, despite a diplomatic accord reached in Geneva and overtures from the government in Kiev. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (20 Apr 2014)
<<APPHOTO XEL105 (04/20/14)££
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
