Kremlin sends envoy to Ukraine's restive east

SLOVYANSK, Ukraine (AP) — A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin says the Kremlin has sent an envoy to Ukraine's southeast to negotiate the release of foreign military observers who were captured by pro-Russian militia in the city of Slovyansk.

In comments to Russian news agencies Dmitry Peskov did not specify where Vladimir Lukin was sent to but said that the Kremlin has not been able to get in touch with him since Ukraine launched what seemed to be the first major assault on pro-Russian forces in the country's east.

Both sides report at least three dead and two injured.