DHAKA: A Ukrainian ultra-nationalist leader has been shot dead in what officials describe as special forces operation.

Oleksandr Muzychko, better known as Sashko Bily, died in a shoot-out with police in a cafe in Rivne in western Ukraine.

Ukraine’s interior ministry said, reports the BBC.

He was a leader of Right Sector, a far-right group which was prominent in the recent anti-government protests.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s parliament has voted to accept the resignation of defence minister Ihor Tenyukh.

Tenyukh had been accused of indecision in the face of Russia’s military takeover of Crimea.

The shooting of Muzychko happened just hours after Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Deshchytsia, their first meeting since Russia’s move into Crimea triggered a diplomatic crisis.

Ukraine’s deputy interior minister Vladimir Yevdokimov said Muzychko died after opening fire at police and Sokol special forces, who had raided a cafe to arrest him and fellow ultra-nationalists.

The authorities described Muzychko as a criminal gang-leader.

‘He was still alive as they were arresting him - but then the paramedics, called to the scene, found that he had died,’ Yevdokimov said.

BDST: 2004 HRS, MAR 25, 2014