Assault on Sloviansk by Ukrainian Forces – 05/02/2014

RIA Novosti provided a live report on the event: "16:44 The self-defense forces of Slavyansk refute Kiev's claim that the city has been 'practically cleared' of militia."

TASS also covered the chronology of the military operation in Slavyansk: "The punitive operation by Ukrainian authorities in Slavyansk began early in the morning on Friday, May 2. As a result, three people were killed. Russia believes that Kiev has destroyed the last hope for implementing the Geneva agreements."

Vesti.ru publishes a major report on the situation in Slavyansk in the evening: "Early in the morning on May 2, the assault on Slavyansk began. The civilian population was given no chance to evacuate. Paratroopers landed on the outskirts of the city, armored vehicles advanced. The assault was carried out with helicopter support, which fired on gatherings of people."

RT in Russian provides a detailed account of the storming of Slavyansk, describing it as expected and sharing pleas for help from civilians: "Earlier, reports indicated that the assault on Slavyansk, which remains under the control of supporters of Ukraine’s federalization, could begin on May 2. Local residents recorded a video appeal to the Kiev authorities, in which they promised, if necessary, to march to Kiev to restore justice. 'We demand an end to the mistreatment of our southeast!' they insist. 'Do not touch the women of Donbass! Our husbands are miners, and every day we send them to their deaths!' says a woman from Slavyansk."

Izvestia reports on the start of the assault on Slavyansk: "Ukrainian troops are storming militia checkpoints in Slavyansk. In the morning, sirens sounded in the city, warning of an attack. The offensive by Ukrainian army forces is being carried out from multiple directions with the support of aviation and armored vehicles."

Interfax reports on the storming of Slavyansk based on statements from the self-defense forces: "The self-defense forces of Donbass claim that Ukrainian military units launched an assault on Slavyansk early Friday morning."

The British The Guardian describes the assault as the most serious attack by Ukrainian forces since the beginning of the conflict in eastern Ukraine: “Ukrainian military forces have mounted their fiercest attempt yet to retake the town at the epicentre of the pro-Russian insurrection in the east, obliterating checkpoints – and losing two of their own helicopters – in an assault that tilts the country ever closer to outright conflict.”

The British The Telegraph provides a daily overview of the situation in Ukraine: "Both sides said two Ukrainian helicopters were shot down by the insurgents near Slovyansk, killing two crew members, while authorities said another seven people also died: three separatist gunmen, two soldiers and two civilians. By nightfall, Ukrainian troops and armored personnel carriers blocked all major roads into Slovyansk, and the central part of the city remained in the hands of pro-Russia gunmen."

The American The New York Times publishes an extensive article on the "multifaceted" uprising, telling the stories of various people involved in the day's events: “The rebel leader spread a topographic map in front of a closed grocery store here as a Ukrainian military helicopter flew past a nearby hill. Ukrainian troops had just seized positions along a river, about a mile and a half away. The commander thought they might advance.”

The French Le Figaro reports on the launch of a military operation against two cities in eastern Ukraine: "Early Friday morning, the Ukrainian army launched a major military operation against the cities of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, held by pro-Russian separatists. Ukraine’s Interior Minister urged residents of the two industrial cities, home to 110,000 and 160,000 people in eastern Ukraine, to stay indoors and away from windows."

The Italian La Repubblica describes the military actions in eastern Ukraine as a civil war: "Fighting is taking place across eastern Ukraine. In Slavyansk, 'many' pro-Russian militants have been killed and wounded. Clashes continue, and according to Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov, at least two Ukrainian soldiers have died and seven have been injured during the offensive launched from Kiev against the eastern city. Two Mi-24 helicopters have also been shot down, and a Mi-8 helicopter has been damaged."

The Spanish El Mundo publishes a detailed article on the attack by Ukrainian forces on Slavyansk: "This morning, the Ukrainian army launched a major military operation in the pro-Russian separatist city of Slavyansk in the southeast of the country to regain control. However, Kiev acknowledges difficulties with the operation. 'It is not proceeding as quickly as we would like,' admitted Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov in a statement."

The Polish Armed Poland (Uzbrojona Polska) claims that the militia has taken the entire city hostage: "Slavyansk is a city of nearly 120,000 inhabitants in Donetsk Region, eastern Ukraine. On April 12, it was seized by pro-Russian separatists. They are holding several dozen hostages, including the mayor, military personnel, SBU officers, and a group of OSCE observers, including a Pole. Today, at four in the morning (five Polish time), Ukrainian troops, supported by Interior Ministry forces, launched an assault on the city."

UNIAN provides a timeline of the assault on Slavyansk from early morning: "The operation is being conducted by units of the Interior Ministry, the National Guard, and the Armed Forces. At the moment, nine terrorist checkpoints within the city of Slavyansk have been taken under control," reported Arsen Avakov on his Facebook page."

Ukrainska Pravda publishes Turchynov's report on the operation in Slavyansk: "The operation is not progressing as quickly as we would like, and it is significantly complicated by the fact that the terrorists' bases are located in densely populated cities. They are hiding behind civilians, using hostages as human shields, and firing from multi-story residential buildings."