Two unidentified individuals were killed in a restaurant robbery in downtown Donetsk Tuesday afternoon, according to Russian language news reports.
The robbery was preceded by an explosion and gunfire at the Panorama restaurant on Prospekt Ilicha in the Voroshilov district at around 1330 hrs.
Three vehicles and a nearby cafe were damaged in the fire and mayhem.
The news account says that an armed, uniformed Chechen group was responsible for the robbery. Chechens in differing capacities fight for both sides in the war in southeastern Ukraine.
Donetsk officials are apparently having a very hard time with crime in their new republic between violence, robberies and illegal smuggling.
A shipment of illegal alcohol and tobacco bound for rebel held parts of Donetsk was seized on Monday in Volnovakha in Donetsk in Ukrainian territory by members of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). The resulting shootout killed one SBU officer and drove the Ukrainian Interior Ministry to round up 11 individuals suspected of involvement.
The bust and shootout had a connection with Dnepropetrovsk governor Igor Kolomoisky. He personally funds Right Sector political groups, including volunteer military units fighting against pro Russian rebels in southeastern Ukraine.
Chris Covert writes about foreign military issues for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com. You can read past articles about the 2014 war in southeastern Ukraina by clicking here.