- Title: UKRAINE: Pro-Ukrainian militia says it captured 32 separatists
- Date: 13th June 2014
- Summary: DEAD MAN WITH PLASTIC BAG ON HIS HEAD LYING ON THE GROUND
- Embargoed: 28th June 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Conflict,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA4T1V69UPBP89JOJJYGJ8SZZK7
- Story Text: Pro-Ukrainian squadron says it captured 32 pro-Russian separatists in fighting in the eastern port city of Mariupol.
Members of the pro-Ukrainian militant group Azov said they captured 32 pro-Russian separatists on Friday (June 13) as fighting raged in the strategic eastern port city of Mariupol.
The Azov squadron, which is not officially affiliated with Ukrainian armed forces, said it would take the men to the Mariupol airport for questioning by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU).
Members of the squadron lay the captured men on the ground with their hands bound.
One squadron member beat a man with the flag of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic", while others questioned another man about how he became involved with the pro-Russian separatist movement.
"Everything started from a (pro-Russian) rally. I was fired and came to rally," Pavel Dobchenko said.
After a dawn raid, Ukrainian government forces reclaimed the city from pro-Russian separatists in heavy fighting on Friday, and said they had regained control of a long stretch of the border with Russia.
The advances are significant victories for the pro-European leadership in a military operation to crush the rebellion, which began in east Ukraine in April, and hold the country together. Parallel peace moves are only moving slowly, however, and Russia is threatening to cut gas supplies to Ukraine from Monday in a row over prices.
A ministry aide said government forces had attacked after surrounding the rebels and giving them 10 minutes to surrender. At least five separatists and two servicemen were killed before many of the rebels fled.
Mariupol, which has changed hands several times in weeks of conflict, is strategically important because it lies on major roads from the southeastern border with Russia into the rest of Ukraine, and steel is exported through the port. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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