Fears Grow Over Sloviansk Offensive

Ukraine's army cut off the main road into the city on Sunday squeezing its hold on rebel fighters

Last week , rebels shot down two Ukrainian helicopters on the outskirts of Sloviansk

Ukraine's Prime Minister Arsenly Yatsenyuk said on Sunday that the armed forces were continuing their "anti terror" ooperation in the East of the country

Speaking two dayss after dozens were killed in violence in the Ukrainian port city of Odessa , Mr. Yatsenyuk accused Russia of executing a plan "to destroy Ukraine and its Statehood"

Several thousand supporters of a united Ukraine , some of them masked and carrying sticks , rallied in Odessa late on Sunday before marching to the regional police headquarters

They sang the national anthem as they marched to the Trade Union Building  to re deploy the Ukrainian flag that had been burned by Pro Russians on Saturday

More than 60 people arrested over Fridays violence in Odessa were freed by police on Sunday after protesters attacked the main police station in the city

Several hundred Pro Russian protesters besiged the police headquarters , breaking through windows and doors

The clashes on Friday left more than 40 dead , mostly Pro Russian separatists killed in a building fire

Prime Minister Yatsenyuk accused police of failing to prevent Fridays unrest and accused Russia foe instigating the violence

"Russia's aim was to repeat in Odessa what is happening in the East of the country" , he said

Mr. Yatsenyuk insisted Kiev had not lost control of the region entirely nd said much would depend on whether local populations support peace and stability or whether they support those who are sponsered by Russia