Sloviansk

An Italian journalist was killed Saturday during a mortar shell attack close to Slaviansk, Donetsk region, Italy's Foreign Ministry said.

"Unfortunately, all of the information points to the fact that he has died," a spokeswoman told AFP on Sunday.

Troops sent by Kiev as part of an "anti-terrorist" operation in eastern Ukraine have made progress retaking seized buildings in the port of Mariupol.

Wednesday's developments follow the entering of 10 army tanks and armored vehicles into Mariupol, which was revealed by witnesses cited by local media.

Clashes between pro-Russian federalists and Ukrainian troops have reportedly led to a number of casualties in the eastern city of Slaviansk on Monday.

Ukrainain special forces claimed Friday to control "half of Slaviansk", hours after Kiev renewed its operation against pro-Russian separatists.

Officials from the Security Service of Ukraine regained significant parts of the city in what authorities describe as an "anti-terrorist" operation.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry reports to have eliminated three roadblocks set up by pro-Russian supporters in Slaviansk, Donetsk region.

"The roadblocks near Slaviansk have been eliminated by antiterrorist center forces in an antiterrorist operation at about 5 AM on April 30", the Interior Ministry said, quoted by Interfax.

OSCE condemns attacks, kidnappings of journalists

VIENNA -- OSCE media freedom representative has denounced continuing attacks, kidnappings of journalists, forced switching of TV channels in Ukraine conflict areas.

At least two men were reportedly killed after Ukrainian commandos stormed the eastern town of Slaviansk, which has been controlled by pro-Russian rebels for weeks.

The city's website, as quoted by RIA Novosti, also says an "unspecified number" of people have been injured.

UN Security Council failed to decide on action regarding the unrest in Eastern Ukraine, at an emergency meeting on Sunday.

The latest developments come at a time of violence sparked by rebel groups in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk.

Four people have died since tensions heightened in Slaviansk over the weekend, Ukraine's UNIAN agency reported.

The "anti-terrorist" operation of Ukrainian security forces in the eastern town of Slaviansk has left at least one dead and several injured.

A state security officer was killed in Sunday's operation aimed at ousting pro-Russian separatists from the police headquarters in Slaviansk, according to reports of the BBC News.

Ukrainian acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has called on the residents of Slaviansk to not leave their homes or stay near windows due to an ongoing "anti-terrorist operation."

Avakov warned about clashes on Facebook, announcing that separatists had opened fire on special forces without negotiations in the eastern town of Slaviansk, in Ukraine's Donetsk region.