Rebels Shoot Down Ukrainian Helicopters

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Pro-Russian gunmen listen to instructions from their commander, center, behind barricades in Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Friday, May 2, 2014. Ukraine launched what appeared to be its first major assault against pro-Russian forces who have seized government.

From VOA Learning English, this is In The News. 

Pro-Russian rebels shot down two Ukrainian helicopters in eastern Ukraine on Friday. Two airmen were killed. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said a third helicopter was also hit.

In a statement, Ukraine’s government reported that missiles brought down the two helicopters. It said the firing of missiles was evidence that Russian forces were present in the city. Russia denies its troops are on Ukrainian soil (vùng đất).

News of the attacks came as Ukrainian government forces strengthened their positions around the rebel-held city of Slovyansk. Ukrainian military vehicles moved to neighborhoods just outside Slovyansk. But rebels still controlled most of the city of 130,000 people. 

Reporters there heard shooting and saw one helicopter opening fire before sunrise. Twelve hours later, the city was largely quiet with armedseparatists in control. About 100people gathered outside governmentbuildings. They appealed to RussianPresident Vladimir Putin to sendtroops to help them. 

The Russian military has tens ofthousands of troops across theborder. Russia had earlier claimedthe right to invade if needed toprotect Russian speakers in easternUkraine.

On Friday, Russian officials accusedthe Ukrainian government oflaunching a “criminal” assault thatwrecked hopes of peace. Aspokesman for President Putinaccused Ukrainian forces of firing oncivilians from the air in what hecalled a “punitive operation.” 

President Putin demanded onThursday that Ukraine withdraw allmilitary personnel from territoryalong the Russian border. He madethe comment to German ChancellorAngela Merkel, who was on her wayto Washington.

On Friday, the German leader metwith President Barack Obama at theWhite House. The two leadersexpressed hope for a diplomaticresolution to the crisis. Thepresident warned of expandingsanctions on Mr. Putin and others ifRussia continued to fuel the unrest inUkraine. 

The European Union says it iswatching events in eastern Ukrainewith growing concern. But Ukraine is not a member of the North AtlanticTreaty Organization. And Westernleaders have made clear that they will not defend Ukraine.

Separatists and Russian interventionare not the only threats to Ukraine. Many Ukrainians think their countryis in crisis. A new study found thatnearly 80 percent of thosequestioned in eastern Ukraine thinkthe government is unlawful. RakeshSharma was the director of thesurvey. 

“In Kharkiv and Donetsk, in thosefocus group, what we heard werepeople saying primarily that thisgovernment does not represent us, we do not feel like our interests arebeing represented by thisgovernment, and that there was a lotof dissatisfaction with the direction of the country and the way it washeaded.”

A Washington-based pro-democracygroup organized the survey. Thegroup receives most of its moneyfrom the United Nations and theUnited States Agency forInternational Development. 

Pro-Russian separatists are seekinga vote on May 11 on whether to breakwith Ukraine’s government. Localofficials in Crimea held a similar voteearlier this year. Russia took controlof the Crimean peninsula shortly afterthe vote.

And that’s In The News, from VOALearning English. I’m Steve Ember.

*For the latest news about Ukraine, go to VOANews.com.