Ukraine Soldiers Killed In Renewed Sloviansk Fighting

It says the gunmen used heavy weapons against Ukraine's units involved in the "anti terror"operation , casualties were also reported aong the rebels

The militants are reported to have retreated towards the city center which is now quiet

The rebel stronghold remains sealed off by Ukrainian troops

Pro Russian militants have seized government buildings in a dozen or more Ukrainian cities in the East

Kiev accuses Moscow of supporting and arming the gunmen , a claim denied by the Kremlin

Speaking to reporters near Sloviansk , Ukrainian interior minister Arsen Avakov accused the militants of trying to ambush government forces on the outskirts of Sloviansk on onday morning , he blamed the rebels , for using heavy weapons , including mortars

The Ukrainian military later said that four soldiers had been killed and about 30 injured

In a statement , the defence confirmed that a helicopter has been shot down near Sloviansk , the crew of the aircraft survived , largely because the helicopter crashed into a river  the ministry added it was the third helicopter to be downed over the city  in recent days

Russia warned on Monday , that failure to halt the escalating unrest would threaten peace across Europe , Moscow called on Ukraine and the international community to step up "joint efforts" to end "racism , xenophobia , ethnic intolerance , and the glorifacation of the Nazis" a refrence to extermists Russia claims are commiting "mass" rights violations in Ukraine

Kiev describes the claims as blatant propaganda , and instead accuses the Russian authorities of turning their country into an authoritarian state

Despite the latest violence , Ukraine plans to hold a Presidential election on May 25th