DONETSK, August 21 (RIA Novosti) - Eastern Ukrainian independence forces have killed a sabotage group composed of mortar gunners and snipers who had been shelling the Donetsk city center, a militia headquarters representative said Thursday.
“We’ve received a signal from local residents that two mortar detachments have been operating almost in the city center. Protected by three snipers’ covering fire, they have been shelling the area of the former Ukrainian Security Service building [now a militia headquarters]. The self-defense members have engaged in fighting with the saboteurs, the group has been eliminated,” said the representative.
Earlier, Donetsk People’s Republic authorities repeatedly warned the population about infiltration by sabotage groups from Ukrainian government forces. Local residents report that the pro-independence fighters occasionally exchange fire with unidentified armed people.
The Kiev authorities have been conducting a military operation in eastern Ukraine, aimed at suppressing local pro-independence forces that do not recognize the February regime change in the country. Moscow has opposed the operation, urging the world community to help make Kiev stop the military action that Russia considers “punitive.”
