THE Ukrainian army destroyed two pro-Russian activist bases in overnight operations, the country’s acting president bragged today.

State troops destroyed a camp outside the town of Kramatorsk, Oleksandr Turchynov told parliament.

In another operation, troops had destroyed a base in the nearby city of Sloviansk.

Ukraine’s defence ministry said there were no casualties and that the army took three pro-Russian activists captive.

One of them had an anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher, the ministry claimed.

The Kiev authorities claimed that no civilians had got caught in the fight, although it did not say how it distinguished the activists.

Supposed peace talks in Kiev have produced no visible results since the government confirmed its refusal to sit down with representatives of the activists.

The next session of the talks is expected tomorrow.