Ukraine’s deputy army chief resigns

Ukraine’s deputy army chief has resigned in protest over government attempts to involve the army to put down unrest rocking the country, after Kiev erupted in unprecedented deadly violence.

“Today the army is being involved in the civil conflict, which could lead to the mass deaths of civilians and soldiers,” General Yuri Dumanski, deputy head of the army’s general staff, told Channel 5 television in comments broadcast Friday.

“I have decided to hand in my resignation to avoid an escalation,” he said.