'Anti-terrorist' operation in Slovyansk; pro-Russians set up improvised clinic in Donetsk

(24 Apr 2014) Government orders to resume military operations in parts of eastern Ukraine appeared to be taking effect on Thursday, two days after acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, gave the order.
At least 10 military and special police armoured vehicles were parked on the road just to the north of Slovyansk, a city 160 kilometres (100 miles) west of the Russian border that has emerged as the focus of the armed insurgency.
Two helicopters were also spotted circling over the area.
Near the town of Makatikha, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Slovyansk, pro-Russian militia at checkpoints set fire to barricades of car tyres in an apparent attempt to reduce visibility from the air.
Troops ordered residents in the surrounding area to keep away.
An Associated Press reporter observed about two dozen militiamen manning checkpoints along the road earlier in the day.
No gunfire had been heard by late morning.
Elsewhere in the east, pro-Russian demonstrators in the city of Donetsk set up an improvised clinic in the seized regional administrative building for protesters who need medical treatment but refuse to go to a proper hospital because out of fear of the authorities.
One of the masked men occupying the building claimed there were thousands of people inside and the central government would have to kill them all if they decided to take action against them.
On Wednesday, the pro-Russian activists said they vacated two floors and a session hall in the building to allow the local government to start working again.
However a large number of administrative buildings in the east of Ukraine still remain under control of the pro-Russian demonstrators.
Ukraine is going through its biggest political crisis since the fall of Soviet Union, set off by months-long anti-government protests and President Viktor Yanukovych's flight to Russia.
Yanukovych's ouster sparked wide anger in his support base in Ukraine's east.
The insurgents, who claim Ukraine's post-Yanukovych government consists of nationalists who will suppress the east's large Russian-speaking population, are demanding regional autonomy or even annexation by Russia.


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