Ukraine’s Interior Minister said Tuesday that 30 pro-Russian insurgents were killed during operations to expunge anti-government forces in and near a city in the east. Meanwhile the central authorities in Kiev attempted to reassert control over the southern region of Odessa by appointing a new governor there.
Arsen Avakov said on his Facebook page Tuesday that four government troops also died and 20 were injured during fighting in Slovyansk.
Gunbattles took place at various positions around the city Monday in what has proven the most determined government effort to date to quell unrest in the mainly Russian-speaking east.