Pro-Russian activists have seized six Ukrainian armoured personnel carriers (APCs) along with their crews in Kramatorsk, in a major setback to the government’s hopes of asserting authority in the east.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said in a statement that the vehicles were blocked by local citizens, with members of a Russian terrorist sabotage group among them.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

"The extremists captured vehicles and moved to Slavyans," the statement read. "The armoured vehicles are located near one of the administrative buildings in the centre of Slavyansk. Armed persons in military uniform are near them, [but] these persons are not from the Ukrainian Armed Forces."

"The separatists also raised the Russian flag on the vehicles, which were allegedly taken from the Ukrainian troops who had driven into the town after taking control of a nearby airfield."

The separatists also raised the Russian flag on the vehicles, which were allegedly taken from the Ukrainian troops who had driven into the town after taking control of a nearby airfield.

However, a spokesperson for the separatists was quoted by Reuters as saying that the Ukrainian soldiers surrendered their vehicles after talks.

See Also:

The whereabouts of the Ukrainian servicemen is still unknown, according to the Ukrainian Defence Ministry.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Another column of 15 armoured troop carriers was reportedly surrounded and halted by a pro-Russian militia elsewhere in Kramatorsk, but left after the soldiers handed the firing pins from their rifles to a rebel commander.

After several days of delays, Ukraine launched an anti-terrorist operation on Tuesday, dispatching the 25th paratrooper division troops to the east to retake government buildings held by separatists who have proclaimed independence and demanded a referendum on joining Russia.

Meanwhile, representatives from Ukraine, Russia, the US and the EU are scheduled to meet today in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss the crisis in the former Soviet Republic.

Defence Technology