LUHANSK, June 3 (RIA Novosti) — Thirteen people died as a result of an airstrike and a battle with border troops in Luhansk, a representative of the Luhansk People's Republic press service told RIA-Novosti Tuesday.
"Eight people died during an airstrike at the regional administration building, and five people in the fight with the border guards in Mirny neighborhood," the source said.
On Monday, Ukrainian military stroke Luhansk from the air twice. The first shot was at the administration building in the center of the city. The second airstrike went into a roadblock by Luhansk. According to LPR’s officials, cluster bombs banned by the international convention were used in the attack.
At the same time, a fight between independence supporters and the border patrol lasted all day on Monday.
Eight members of the Ukrainian special forces were injured, according to the national State Border Guard Service.
The attacks came as part of a special operation launched by Ukraine’s government to crack down on independence supporters in mid-April. The state authorities failed to gain control over the self-proclaimed independent republics.
Moscow has repeatedly condemned the new Kiev authorities for what it called "a punitive operation" and stressed the need for de-escalation of the Ukrainian crisis.