© Reuters/Baz RatnerUkrainian soldiers stand guard at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slaviansk
The village of Andreevka, over 100km from Slavyansk, has come under artillery fire from Kiev forces, according to the representative of the self-defense forces, as quoted by RIA Novosti.
"There was an artillery attack. Houses have been destroyed. Cars are on fire. There are casualties, but the numbers aren't known yet," the representative said.
The assault of Slavyansk itself began around 5am local time (02:00 GMT) by the Kiev forces, ITAR-TASS reported.
"The enemy started the artillery attack on Andreevka using heavy mortars and howitzers. Also we have data on the opposing side using helicopters for covering operations," a representative of the self-defense HQ told Interfax.
The explosions are at a frequency of once a minute.
The attack is being conducted from the TV tower on Karachun Mountain.
The National Guard is firing at security checkpoints, but reports emerged of mortar shells landing in local residents' homes.
© Unknown
Comment: One wonders how the junta in Kiev thinks that shelling the population in the south-east of Ukraine is going to make them more friends. Fear and intimidation is not going to work, but will only push the population into even greater revolt. Those who hesitated before will now be keen to separate from the junta in Kiev, who attacks its own population.
Can you imagine the response from the Western leaders and media if Yanukovych had done this?