The punitive operation of the Ukrainian authorities in Slavyansk began early in the morning on Friday, May 2. As a result, three people died. Russia believes that Kyiv has destroyed the last hope for the implementation of the Geneva agreements. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, “Ukrainian troops began the assault on Slovyansk with the involvement of extremists from the Right Sector and other ultranationalist organizations. During the punitive operation, Ukrainian security forces used combat helicopters and armored vehicles. English was heard on the radio, and fighters armed with American rifles were seen among the attackers M-16. The militants of the “Right Sector” who broke into the outskirts of the city robbed grocery stores and broke into residential buildings in search of militias. Slovyansk was completely blocked by the Ukrainian military, which did not allow women and children to be taken out of the city.”
Source: White Paper of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (2nd edition)
Chronology of events on May 2:
07.18 Moscow time A full-scale cleansing began in Slavyansk, armored vehicles are standing on the outskirts of the city. Representatives of the people’s militia reported that the Ukrainian authorities used helicopters and troops against civilians.
07.48 Moscow time Combat helicopters of the Ukrainian Air Force are circling in the sky over Slavyansk, the city is completely blocked. “Armored vehicles cover the landing offensive,” one of the militias comments on the situation.
On 09:18 Moscow time, the defenders of Slovyansk shot down two helicopters of the Ukrainian Air Force, one pilot died, the second was taken to the city hospital.
10.03 Moscow time The third helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force was shot down over one of the checkpoints in Slovyansk. “The Mi-24 literally exploded in the air, the fate of the crew is unknown,” the Rossiya-24 TV channel reported.
11.38 Moscow time So far, three people have died as a result of the operation in Slovyansk: two Ukrainian servicemen and one of the defenders of the city.
12.38 Moscow time In Slavyansk, a sniper fired at a car with journalists from Komsomolskaya Pravda. And the locals are blocking the paratroopers of the Ukrainian army on the outskirts of the city.
13.42 Moscow time Radicals from the Right Sector, who arrived on the outskirts of Slavyansk, are heading towards the city in civilian clothes.
14.09 Moscow time At the railway station Slavyansk, unknown people paralyzed the movement of trains.
14.19 Moscow time Radio interception data may indicate the participation of foreigners in a special operation in Slavyansk, local militias believe.
14.35 Moscow time Russian Foreign Ministry: Moscow is outraged by the start of a punitive military operation in Slavyansk involving terrorists from the Legal Sector.
At 18.27 Moscow time, an armored personnel carrier of one of the units of the Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ran over the legs of an elderly man who, in the area of the city of Kramatorsk, together with his fellow villagers, tried to delay the advance of a military convoy, local media reported.
19.30 Moscow time During the punitive operation, several dozen militiamen were injured, one died, a representative of the people’s defense of Slavyansk said.
22.15 Moscow time The situation in Slavyansk escalated sharply by Friday evening, “dense shooting” is heard, in particular, in the area of the Headquarters of the People’s Militia.
22.35 Moscow time The leader of the “Right Sector” Dmitry Yarosh is heading to Slavyansk.
23.10 Moscow time Snipers fire at the headquarters of the militia in Slavyansk, there are wounded.
23.28 Moscow time The operation against the supporters of federalization in the south-east of Ukraine (in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk) will be continued, the acting president said. head of the presidential administration Turchinov.