Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has confirmed that a Ukrainian Armed Forces pilot was killed during the military operation near Sloviansk.
“A real battle is under way there. 1 pilot has been killed and several people have been injured,” Avakov said on his Facebook page.
“Units of the Interior Ministry, the National Guard and the Armed Forces launched the active phase of the anti-terrorist operation in the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk area at 0430. They took control of 9 roadblocks inside Sloviansk. The town is tightly encircled,” he said.
“The operation is going as planned. I am at the site together with the defense minister and the National Guard commander,” Avakov said.
