There have been violent clashes in eastern Ukraine overnight – as seen in images posted on the internet.<br /><br /> The Kyiv authorities say pro-Russian activists attacked a base of the Ukrainian national guard at Mariupol. In the gun battle that ensued, three attackers were killed.<br /><br /> A local news website spoke on Thursday morning of four deaths.<br /><br /> Ukraine’s interior ministry said earlier that armed protesters demanded that soldiers switch sides and back their revolt. The troops refused.<br /><br /> The government said a major security operation was underway in the area. Mariupol’s city administration was seized by rebels at the weekend. It is not known if it is still under their control.<br /><br /> The Interior Minister Arsen Avakov claimed on Facebook that 13 of those who assaulted the base were wounded and more than 60 detained.<br /><br /> The Ukrainian TV channel Hromadske says its film shows armed activists challenging troops to give up weapons.<br /><br /> If the deaths are confirmed, the event is the bloodiest so far in the 10-day-old pro-Russian revolt in eastern Ukraine.
