LUHANSK, May 28 (RIA Novosti) – Soldiers of Ukraine’s National Guard have used prohibited explosive bullets while shelling the city of Rubizhne, near Luhansk, a member of the local self-defense forces told RIA Novosti Wednesday.
“They have begun firing explosive bullets in residential areas. People have started hiding in basements,” he said. “Apparently, the National Guard is unaware that explosive bullets are banned by international convention,” he added.
Shooting has currently stopped in the area and there have been no reports of injuries.
Local residents reported earlier that shooting had resumed in the city and continued throughout the night in 5 to 10-minute intervals.
Pro-federalization protests have swept across Ukraine’s southeastern regions in response to the regime change in Kiev in February and ouster of country’s legitimate president Viktor Yanukovych.
In mid-April, Ukraine’s interim government launched a special operation to crack down on federalists, but failed to gain control over the self-proclaimed independent republics. Moscow described the operation as a punitive act.
