Kiev pins hopes on oligarch in battle against eastern separatists

DNIPROPETROVSK (Reuters) - Ukrainian self-defence fighters who clashed with armed pro-Russian separatists on Friday are at the forefront of Kiev's efforts to prevent the country splitting.

Co-funded and organised under Igor Kolomoisky, one of Ukraine's richest men, they play a more assertive role than the unarmed miners and metalworkers working for another oligarch, Rinat Akhmetov, who more recently spoke against the rebels.