DONETSK, May 05. /ITAR-TASS/. A battle is on between Ukrainian special forces and people’s police near the village of Semenovka on Sloviansk-Donetsk highway in east Ukraine. Four Ukrainian armoured personnel carriers opened fire at checkpoints, press officer of the self-proclaimed Donetsk people’s republic Alexander Maltsev told ITAR-TASS.

Two helicopters with paratroopers are flying over a TV tower situated between the eastern Ukrainian cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

Earlier, ukrainian special forces have started a punitive operation in the city of Sloviansk early on Friday morning. “A full sweep operation was launched” with armoured vehicles and warplanes involved in it, a representative of the city militia told ITAR-TASS. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry stated that two Ukrainian Air Force’s helicopter gunships Mil Mi-24 had been downed and a military transport helicopter Mi-8 had been damaged in clashes.

Three people, including two servicemen and a militiaman were reported killed.

Earlier, Ukrainian Security Service’s anti-terrorism centre reported about “the gunfire at a third helicopter gunship” which participated in a special operation in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk, the country’s security service stated at its website on Friday.