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Ukraine army attacks eastern rebels as truce ends | Ukraine army attacks eastern rebels as truce ends |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Ukrainian forces have launched a full-scale military operation against pro-Russia separatists in the east, hours after a ceasefire ended. | Ukrainian forces have launched a full-scale military operation against pro-Russia separatists in the east, hours after a ceasefire ended. |
Rebel bases and strongholds were under attack from aircraft and artillery, government officials said. | Rebel bases and strongholds were under attack from aircraft and artillery, government officials said. |
The 10-day ceasefire ended on Monday evening, with President Petro Poroshenko saying "criminal elements" had thwarted the chance for peace. | The 10-day ceasefire ended on Monday evening, with President Petro Poroshenko saying "criminal elements" had thwarted the chance for peace. |
Russia demanded an immediate halt to the attacks and a return to the truce. | |
Ukraine's parliamentary Speaker Oleksander Turchynov told MPs on Tuesday: "I can inform you that in the morning the active phase of the anti-terrorist operation was renewed. | |
"Our armed forces are carrying out strikes on terrorist bases and checkpoints." | "Our armed forces are carrying out strikes on terrorist bases and checkpoints." |
President Poroshenko went on television on Monday night saying: "We will attack, we will free our land." | President Poroshenko went on television on Monday night saying: "We will attack, we will free our land." |
The president had come under pressure from protesters in Kiev, who urged a renewal of the operation against the separatists. | |
Russia's foreign ministry on Tuesday condemned the Ukrainian operation. | |
It said in a statement: "We demand that the Ukrainian authorities refrain from shelling civilian cities and villages in their own country, return to a real, not a fake, ceasefire to safeguard the lives of the people." | |
'Active role' | 'Active role' |
Both sides had accused each other of violating the truce, during which frequent clashes were reported. | Both sides had accused each other of violating the truce, during which frequent clashes were reported. |
One separatist leader in the east vowed to continue fighting until all Ukrainian troops had left. | One separatist leader in the east vowed to continue fighting until all Ukrainian troops had left. |
The "prime minister" of the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic, Vasiliy Nikitin, told the Interfax news agency: "All calls for our fighters to lay down arms can only be discussed after Ukrainian troops withdraw." | The "prime minister" of the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic, Vasiliy Nikitin, told the Interfax news agency: "All calls for our fighters to lay down arms can only be discussed after Ukrainian troops withdraw." |
A four-way teleconference on Monday between Mr Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had raised hopes the truce would be renewed. | A four-way teleconference on Monday between Mr Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had raised hopes the truce would be renewed. |
But Mr Poroshenko said in his address: "The decision not to continue the ceasefire is our answer to terrorists, militants and marauders." | But Mr Poroshenko said in his address: "The decision not to continue the ceasefire is our answer to terrorists, militants and marauders." |
Ukraine and some Western powers accuse Russia of arming the separatists - a claim Russia denies. | |
The trigger for the current crisis was whether Ukraine should lean more towards Russia or the EU. | |
The refusal of Mr Poroshenko's predecessor, Viktor Yanukovych, to sign an EU deal late last year - under pressure from Russia - led to protests in Kiev and his eventual overthrow. | |
Russia has since annexed Ukraine's Crimea region, and separatists in the east declared independence from Ukraine. | |
President Poroshenko signed a landmark EU trade pact last Friday. | |
Are you in Ukraine? Are you affected by the new military operation? Email your experiences to Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject "Ukraine". | Are you in Ukraine? Are you affected by the new military operation? Email your experiences to Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject "Ukraine". |
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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