Ukrainian interior minister says government troops clash with separatists in port of Mariupol

KYIV, Ukraine – Ukraine’s interior minister says that government troops have attacked pro-Russian separatists in the southern port of Mariupol.

Arsen Avakov said Friday that four government troops were wounded as forces retook buildings occupied by the rebels in the centre of the town. He said troops destroyed a light armoured vehicle used by the separatists.

The renewed fighting comes as rebel leaders confirmed they have three tanks. Ukrainian officials have said the tanks crossed from the Russian side of the porous border and were attacked by Ukrainian troops, but there has been no independent confirmation the tanks come from Russia.

Rebel leader Denis Pushilin told Russian state television the separatists, who call themselves the Donetsk People’s Republic, have the tanks. He said it was “improper to ask” where they had gotten them.