Ukraine claims 2 insurgent bases destroyed in the east

KYIV, Ukraine – Ukraine’s acting president says the army destroyed two military bases of pro-Russian insurgents in operations overnight.

Insurgents have seized government buildings across eastern Ukraine, fought the Ukrainian military and declared independence as the nation’s crisis spilled over from a political meltdown into a military confrontation.

Oleksandr Turchynov told the parliament on Thursday that the Ukrainian forces destroyed a military base outside the town of Kramatorsk, 150 kilometres west of the Russian border, Wednesday night.

In another operation, Turchynov said troops destroyed an insurgent base in the nearby city of Slovyansk. Ukraine’s defence ministry said there were no casualties.

The Ukrainian government on Wednesday hosted the first round of talks intended to resolve the crisis, but ruled out meeting representatives of the insurgents.