MOSCOW — A fatal gun battle overnight near the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk shows that the Ukrainian authorities are failing to rein in armed extremists, Russia's foreign ministry said on April 20. In a statement, the ministry said an unspecified number of innocent civilians were killed in an attack by armed men from "Right Sector," a far-right nationalist group which figured prominently in the overthrow of Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovych in February.
Reuters: Russia says Ukraine clash shows Kyiv not disarming militants
Local pro-Russian leader Vyatcheslav Ponomarev shows ammunition found after a gun battle at a checkpoint in the pro-Russian separatist-held town of Slovyansk early on April 20, 2014.
