Fighting rages as Ukraine army launches offensive in restive townJune 3, 2014 - 15:41 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Fighting raged in eastern Ukraine for the second straight day on Tuesday, June 3, as the army rolled out an offensive against pro-Russia armed men holding the city of Slaviansk and claimed to have inflicted losses on them, according to Reuters. The pro-Russian forces in the town, where a military helicopter was shot down last week killing 14 servicemen, said they had brought down a Su-25 attack aircraft and a helicopter, but this was denied by Ukrainian authorities. The fighting in Slaviansk followed a day-long fire-fight on Monday in Luhansk, a town further east on the border with Russia, after an attack on a border guard camp. At least two people were reported killed in the city center of Luhansk. Reports of fresh fighting coincided with Ukraine announcing that 59 servicemen had been killed in clashes since hostilities broke out in the east in April. "In Donetsk and Luhansk regions 181 people have been killed and 293 wounded by terrorist activity including 59 servicemen," general prosecutor Oleh Makhnitsky told a news conference. The government says the fighting is fomented by Russia, which opposes its pro-Western policies, and accuses Russia of allowing volunteer fighters to cross into Ukraine to fight alongside the rebels. Photo: AP Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. Armenian Economy Minister to make trip to UAE May 20-22 A delegation led by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan will travel to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on May 20-22 Armenia Security Council chief traveling to Qatar Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will travel on a working visit to Qatar. Pillars installed in Armenian border village of Kirants In the Armenian village of Kirants, three border markers have been installed, and border guards stand next to them. |