Local Editor
The latest military assault by Ukrainian forces in the eastern city of Slavyansk deals a final blow to the Geneva peace deal aimed at easing the crisis in the country, a Kremlin spokesperson says.
Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that while Russia “is taking all efforts to de-escalate and settle current conflict, current Kiev authorities have started shelling peaceful settlements from warplanes, have started a punitive operation, actually ruining the last hope for viability of the Geneva accords.”
Peskov said that Moscow’s special envoy Vladimir Lukin was sent to southeast Ukraine on presidential instructions on Thursday to negotiate a possible release of foreign military monitors captured earlier by pro-Russian protesters.
However, he raised concerns over the “punitive measures” by Kiev authorities in Slavyansk, saying, after the start of operations, Russia could not get in contact with Lukin.
“We are extremely concerned that not only presidential special envoy Lukin with whom we cannot get in touch, but also Russian journalists and media people from other countries are staying in the punitive operation zone,” he added.
Pro-Russian protesters in Slavyansk said earlier today that the Ukrainian army has conducted a full-scale attack on them, using armored vehicles, helicopters and tanks.
Ukraine’s interior ministry said army forces are controlling at least nine checkpoints set up by pro-Russian protesters in the city.
Reports say at least one protester has been killed and several others have been injured in gun battles between the two sides in various locations.
The Ukrainian government also confirmed that two army helicopters were shot down by pro-Russian gunmen, leaving one pilot dead and another one arrested.
MOS/NN/HMV
Source: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/05/02/360965/russia-slams-kiev-offensive-in-slavyansk/
