Dozens were killed and injured as Ukrainian army broadened its offensive against pro-federalization activists in the country’s east.

Dozens were killed and injured as Ukrainian army broadened its offensive against pro-federalization activists in the country’s east.

Interior minister Arsen Avakov announced that the Ukrainian army was intensifying the offensive, as he urged activists who seek to join Russia to surrender.

"The active phase of the operation is continuing. We will not stop," said Avakov on his Facebook page.

"Overnight, forces participating in the anti-terrorist operation in Kramatorsk took control of the TV tower that was previously held by the terrorists," added the minister.

Kramatorsk lies some 17 kilometers (10 miles) to the south of the flashpoint town of Slavyansk.
Slavynask witnessed on Friday night bloody events.

Over 10 people have died and around 40 have been injured after members of Right Sector opened fire on civilians in eastern Ukraine, Russia Today reported on Saturday, referring to the Ukrainian army and its supporters.

RT quoted the People’s Mayor of Slavyansk as saying that civilians had reportedly formed a human chain to protect their village.

“In the village of Andreevka (suburb of Slavyansk) during the night people blocked entry to Right Sector members, forming a human chain along the road. Members of Right Sector opened fire, killing over 10 people,” The People’s Mayor of Slavyansk Vyacheslav Ponomarev told Russia’s Interfax news agency in a telephone conversation.

 Vyacheslav Ponomarev was appointed People’s Mayor of Slavyansk after pro-federalization activists took control of the city on April 12.

In addition to the events in Slavyansk, at least 31 pro-federalization activists have died in a fire at Odessa’s Trade Unions House, RT reported.

Some burned to death, while others suffocated or jumped out of windows, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported.

The building was set ablaze by pro-Kiev radicals, RT noted, adding that that official statement said that some 40 people were also injured in the fire.

The authorities in Kiev have admitted the police are "helpless" to contain the separatist move that has swept through more than a dozen towns and cities in the eastern part of the country.