Two senior police officers were shot on Tuesday in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka, Ukrainian news reports said, weeks after the men refused to pledge their allegiance to separatist authorities in the region.
Dmitro Krikunov, head of the Kalininsky district's police unit, and Roman Babyuk, head of the criminal investigation unit, died as a result of gunshot wounds, Ukrainian website crime.in.ua reported Tuesday, citing a spokesman for the Donetsk self-proclaimed authorities.
The two men were among 13 law enforcement officials who refused to comply with a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the region's self-proclaimed authorities on May 13 to pledge their loyalty to the Donetsk People's Republic, local news website Gorlovka.ua said.
It is unconfirmed whether the expired ultimatum and the men's death are related.
See also:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.