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Ukraine crisis: Battle to control Donetsk airport Ukraine crisis: Stand-off amid fight for Donetsk airport
(about 5 hours later)
Ukrainian troops have launched air attacks to regain control of Donetsk airport from pro-Russia rebels. A stand-off between government forces and pro-Russia gunmen is continuing after Ukraine's military sought to retake control of Donetsk airport.
The firing seemed to subside on Monday evening after a fierce gun battle. Kiev deployed helicopters and fighter jets to launch air attacks after armed separatists occupied it.
The fighting came as the man set to become Ukraine's new President, Petro Poroshenko, said he wanted to talk to Russia to end the crisis. A BBC reporter says Ukrainian soldiers resisted a counter attack by rebels and now hold some parts of the airport.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was "open to dialogue" with Mr Poroshenko but military action against separatists must end. The fighting came as Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine's new president, said he wanted to talk to Russia to end the crisis.
Mr Poroshenko said he hoped to meet Russian leaders early next month, after a trip to Poland where he will meet the US president and EU leaders. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was "open to dialogue" with Mr Poroshenko but insisted that military action against separatists must end.
However, he warned he would take a tough line on armed militiamen. But Mr Poroshenko vowed to continue Kiev's "anti-terrorist operation" against pro-Russia gunmen in the east of the country.
He said: "Their goal is to turn Donbass [east Ukraine] into Somalia. I will not let anyone do this to our state and I hope that Russia will support my approach." "Their goal is to turn Donbass [east Ukraine] into Somalia. I will not let anyone do this to our state and I hope that Russia will support my approach," he said.
Mr Poroshenko, 48, has been named Ukraine's new president after winning more than half of the votes in the country's election. He said he hoped to meet Russian leaders early next month, after a trip to Poland where he will meet the US president and EU leaders.
Ukraine's election chief, Mykhaylo Okhendovskyy, said Mr Poroshenko had 54% of the vote with 90% of the ballots counted, and would not need a run-off. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is a distant second on 13%. Earlier, Mr Poroshenko, a 48-year-old billionaire and former foreign minister, was formally declared the winner of Sunday's presidential election with 54% of the vote.
Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was a distant second on 13%.
Election observers said Sunday's vote was a genuine one that largely met international standards.Election observers said Sunday's vote was a genuine one that largely met international standards.
The mission from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) also said it gave the new president "legitimacy" to open a dialogue with separatists in the east.The mission from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) also said it gave the new president "legitimacy" to open a dialogue with separatists in the east.
Welcoming the election as "a major step", the EU said it was looking forward "to further concrete steps on this constructive path, including the use of leverage on armed groups to de-escalate the situation on the ground". Monday's clashes started after separatist militants stormed the Sergei Prokofiev Donetsk airport in the early hours of the morning.
Ukrainian military responded quickly with air strikes and an assault by heavily armed troops.
Correspondents said the operation may be the biggest launched by the authorities in Kiev since the start of the unrest in the east.
The BBC's Mark Lowen in Donetsk says the fighting appeared to stop late on Monday evening, with Ukrainian government forces apparently in control of at least some of the areas inside the airport.
The mayor of Donetsk said there had been "civilian casualties" in the battles and told local residents to stay indoors - but there was no confirmation of any deaths.
The attempt by armed separatists to seize the airport may have been intended to prevent Mr Poroshenko from travelling there after he said his first trip in office would be to visit the restive east.
Ukraine's interim government is engaged in an offensive in the east to quash the uprising that has left scores dead.
Pro-Russian separatists severely disrupted voting there. No polling stations were open in Donetsk city or across the region.
Sunday's election came three months after pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev amid bloody street protests and calls for closer ties with the EU.
Since then, Russia has annexed the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine and armed separatists in the eastern provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk have declared independence.
Media reaction to electionMedia reaction to election
"Has Ukraine been reborn?" asks the Ukrainian edition of Komsomolskaya Pravda. It says the election "will have a special place in the history books". But the paper notes that Crimeans did not vote and the voting in Donbass and Luhansk - formerly Ukraine's "electoral core", proceeded with "great difficulty"."Has Ukraine been reborn?" asks the Ukrainian edition of Komsomolskaya Pravda. It says the election "will have a special place in the history books". But the paper notes that Crimeans did not vote and the voting in Donbass and Luhansk - formerly Ukraine's "electoral core", proceeded with "great difficulty".
"We have survived," proclaims popular Ukrainian daily Segodnya."We have survived," proclaims popular Ukrainian daily Segodnya.
Claims in the Russian media that Ukraine is overrun by extremists and neo-Nazis are ridiculed by some social media commentators. The two right-wing candidates - Dmytro Yarosh and Oleh Tyahnybok - polled less than 2% in total.Claims in the Russian media that Ukraine is overrun by extremists and neo-Nazis are ridiculed by some social media commentators. The two right-wing candidates - Dmytro Yarosh and Oleh Tyahnybok - polled less than 2% in total.
Prominent Ukrainian journalist Mustafa Nayyem proclaims an "epic fail" of Russian propaganda. "Vladimir Putin won't sleep tonight," he predicts.Prominent Ukrainian journalist Mustafa Nayyem proclaims an "epic fail" of Russian propaganda. "Vladimir Putin won't sleep tonight," he predicts.
A turning point, or business as usual?A turning point, or business as usual?
Pro-Russia rebels stormed Sergei Prokofiev Donetsk airport on Monday after it became clear that Mr Poroshenko was heading for outright victory in Ukraine's presidential election.
Fighter jets circled over the airport as attack helicopters fired rockets at the building. There are no confirmed reports of casualties.
The BBC's Mark Lowen at the scene says the fighting appeared to stop on Monday evening, with Ukrainian forces apparently in control of at least some of the areas inside the airport.
Ukraine's interim government is engaged in an offensive in the east to quash the uprising that has left scores dead.
Pro-Russian separatists severely disrupted voting there. No polling stations were open in Donetsk city, and across the region.
On Monday, Mr Poroshenko said "the anti-terrorist operation cannot and should not last two or three months".
"It should and will last hours."
Addressing reporters in Moscow, the Russian foreign minister said continuing military operations against the separatists would be a "colossal mistake".
Mr Lavrov said: Russia was "ready for dialogue with Kiev's representatives, with Petro Poroshenko" and EU and US mediation were not needed.
He said: "As our president [Vladimir Putin] has said, we shall treat the results of the expression of will of the Ukrainian people with respect."
Sunday's election came three months after pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev amid bloody street protests and calls for closer ties with the EU.
Since then, Russia has annexed the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine and armed separatists in the eastern provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk have declared independence.
Are you in Donetsk? Have you been affected by the suspension of flights? What is your reaction to Petro Poroshenko's apparent victory? What next for the country? If you are happy to speak to the BBC you can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Donetsk'.Are you in Donetsk? Have you been affected by the suspension of flights? What is your reaction to Petro Poroshenko's apparent victory? What next for the country? If you are happy to speak to the BBC you can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Donetsk'.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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