Ukraine: Pro-Russian separatists kill 1, injure 2

By Ali Cura

KIEV, Ukraine

One civilian was killed and two injured Wednesday in attacks by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, a security official said Thursday.

"Due to shooting by separatists, one civilian lost his life, and one was shot in the arm," said Alexander Motuzyanik from Ukraine's Anti-Terrorist Division.

Motuzyanik said that one civilian was also injured in a bomb attack in Donetsk, an eastern Ukrainian region controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

Crimea was formally annexed by Moscow in March 2014 after an illegal independence vote on the heels of violent anti-government protests led to the overthrow of the then-President, Victor Yanukovich.

The UN General Assembly had voted nearly unanimously to proclaim the Russian annexation as illegal.

Along with many UN countries, the U.S., and the EU, Turkey also does not recognize Crimea as Russian territory.

Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russia separatists has seen around 9,700 killed, according to the UN.