SLOVIANSK, May 12. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukrainian troops are waging a mortar fire on the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk from Karachun Hill, ITAR-TASS reported from the scene on Monday.

The mortar shelling started at around 5am local time (2am GMT). Blasts are heard with an interval of one minute. The mortar shelling is being waged from a TV broadcasting tower on Karachun Hill. National guard is shooting at checkpoints, but there are some reports that shells had hit residential houses. No casualties were reported yet.

A referendum on self-determination in the wake of the Donetsk People’s Republic proclaimed last April was held in the besieged city of Sloviansk on Sunday. Residents of the besieged city showed the highest turnout, the Sloviansk people’s governor said. “Such a high turnout was not reported at any elections,” he said.