Ukraine's acting president says the army has destroyed two military bases of pro-Russian insurgents.
Oleksandr Turchynov told Ukraine's parliament Thursday troops destroyed an insurgent military base outside the eastern town of Kramatorsk in one overnight operation. In another, troops obliterated a separatist base in the nearby town of Slovyansk. Turchynov said troops also had control of a television tower in Slovyansk.
Insurgents have seized government buildings across eastern Ukraine, fought the Ukrainian military and declared "sovereignty" in two eastern regions.
Ukraine launched talks Wednesday on national unity without the participation of the pro-Russian separatists who are seeking autonomy from Kyiv in the country's east and southeast.
The talks, which opened 11 days ahead of Ukrainian presidential elections, are part of a "road map" plan backed by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Analysts say the deliberate omission of separatists from the discussions raises doubts about whether the meetings will ease ethnic tensions threatening to rip the country apart.
Separatists have dismissed the Kyiv talks.
After Sunday's "sovereignty" votes in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, separatist leaders asked Moscow to consider formally "absorbing" the territories into the Russian Federation. The Kremlin has not yet responded.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday Ukraine was "as close to civil war as you can get" and that a solution must be found that satisfies all of its regions.
He said Ukraine's May 25 presidential polls cannot be legitimate if they are impeded by fighting.
