DHAKA: A Ukrainian officer has been killed in a gun battle with pro-Russian armed men in the eastern city of Sloviansk.

Ukraine interior minister says, reports the BBC.

Both sides suffered a number of casualties, Arsen Avakov said.

Pro-Russian forces took over Sloviansk on Saturday and have targeted at least four other cities, prompting Kiev to launch an ‘anti-terror operation’.

Kiev and Western powers accuse Moscow of inciting the trouble. The Kremlin denies the charge.

US officials said on Saturday there had been a ‘concerted campaign’ by forces with Russian support to undermine the authorities in Kiev.

Secretary of State John Kerry warned of ‘additional consequences’ if Russia failed to make efforts to ‘de-escalate’ and pull its troops back from Ukraine’s border.

BDST: 1935 HRS, APR 13, 2014