Ukraine's government forces have begun an "anti-terror" operation in the eastern city of Sloviansk, Kiev says.
Ukraine's interior minister said one helicopter pilot had been killed and other people wounded by anti-aircraft missile fire from pro-Russian rebels.
However, separatists at three Sloviansk checkpoints have told the BBC there is no fighting in their sector.
The city is a stronghold for pro-Russian separatists who are exerting increasing control in the region.
News agencies report gunfire, explosions and a military helicopter firing on the outskirts.
CJ Chivers, a New York Time journalist in the city, tweeted a short time ago that there was "very little gunfire in Sloviansk now".
Russia's state-run Rossiya 24 TV channel earlier said the city was being "stormed".
On Wednesday, Russia's foreign ministry warned that any storming would have "catastrophic consequences".
Earlier, Ukraine's acting President Olexandr Turchynov reinstated military conscription to deal with deteriorating security in the east of the country.
The move, announced in a decree, came as pro-Russia militants seized the regional prosecutor's office in the city of Donetsk, an industrial hub where a number of government offices have been seized in recent weeks.
Ukraine's interior minister said one helicopter pilot had been killed and other people wounded by anti-aircraft missile fire from pro-Russian rebels.
However, separatists at three Sloviansk checkpoints have told the BBC there is no fighting in their sector.
The city is a stronghold for pro-Russian separatists who are exerting increasing control in the region.
News agencies report gunfire, explosions and a military helicopter firing on the outskirts.
CJ Chivers, a New York Time journalist in the city, tweeted a short time ago that there was "very little gunfire in Sloviansk now".
Russia's state-run Rossiya 24 TV channel earlier said the city was being "stormed".
On Wednesday, Russia's foreign ministry warned that any storming would have "catastrophic consequences".
Earlier, Ukraine's acting President Olexandr Turchynov reinstated military conscription to deal with deteriorating security in the east of the country.
The move, announced in a decree, came as pro-Russia militants seized the regional prosecutor's office in the city of Donetsk, an industrial hub where a number of government offices have been seized in recent weeks.
They forced their way into the building, stripped weapons and shields from police officers and raised the flag of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.
Ukraine blames Russia for organising the seizures of a number of offices in the east, a claim Moscow denies.
Some 40,000 Russian troops are stationed near the Ukrainian border.
Mr Turchynov said his forces were "helpless" to quell the unrest in some parts of the east, saying the goal was now to prevent it from spreading.
He also said Ukraine was on "full combat alert" amid fears that Russian troops could invade.
Monitors held
Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population and was a stronghold for President Viktor Yanukovych before he was overthrown by pro-Western protesters in February.
Ukraine blames Russia for organising the seizures of a number of offices in the east, a claim Moscow denies.
Some 40,000 Russian troops are stationed near the Ukrainian border.
Mr Turchynov said his forces were "helpless" to quell the unrest in some parts of the east, saying the goal was now to prevent it from spreading.
He also said Ukraine was on "full combat alert" amid fears that Russian troops could invade.
Monitors held
Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population and was a stronghold for President Viktor Yanukovych before he was overthrown by pro-Western protesters in February.
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