Ukraine armed forces target separatists in Kramatorsk town

Ukrainian soldiers are seen near armoured personnel carriers at a checkpoint near the town of Izium in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. Ukrainian armed forces on Tuesday launched a "special operation" against separatists in the town o
Ukrainian soldiers are seen near armoured personnel carriers at a checkpoint near the town of Izium in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. Ukrainian armed forces on Tuesday launched a "special operation" against separatists in the town of Kramatorsk in the east of the country, Interfax news agency quoted the defence ministry as saying. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

KIEV (REUTERS) - Ukrainian armed forces on Tuesday launched a "special operation" against separatists in the town of Kramatorsk in the east of the country, Interfax news agency quoted the defence ministry as saying.

Local journalists quoted by Interfax said automatic firing could be heard from the direction of Kramatorsk's military airfield and said a fighter jet had swooped low over the area.

A correspondent of Espresso TV meanwhile said the Ukrainian plane had been trying to land but had not been able to do so because separatists had opened fire on it.

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