Ukraine rebel leader's minibus blown up

A minibus belonging to the rebel leader in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk was blown up, killing two people, but Denis Pushilin was not in the vehicle.

A minibus belonging to Donetsk rebel leader Denis Pushilin has been blown up in the restive eastern Ukrainian city, killing two of his entourage and wounding two, the rebel government says.

Pushilin, who was not in the car when the explosion hit, is one of the leaders of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic", heading its Supreme Soviet.

"One of those wounded in the explosion in front of the Donetsk People's Republic's building died in hospital," the rebels' press service wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

It then updated its Twitter feed: "One more has died in hospital from the terrorist attack outside the Donetsk People's Republic government building. May the heroes be remembered forever!"

The explosion late on Thursday took place outside the headquarters of the separatist rebel movement in the former regional government building in the heart of the coalmining city.

The rebel authorities had said in earlier statements on Twitter that four people were wounded in the attack which happened as the minibus drove away from the building.

"Pushilin was not in the vehicle," the rebel authorities said.

The rebel leader earlier survived an apparent assassination attempt on Saturday when his assistant was shot dead in central Donetsk.


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