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| Ukraine crisis: Rebels 'abandon Sloviansk stronghold' | Ukraine crisis: Rebels 'abandon Sloviansk stronghold' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine have fled their eastern stronghold of Sloviansk amid an offensive by the military, rebel sources say. | Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine have fled their eastern stronghold of Sloviansk amid an offensive by the military, rebel sources say. |
| President Petro Poroshenko has ordered the military to hoist the Ukrainian flag over the city council building. | President Petro Poroshenko has ordered the military to hoist the Ukrainian flag over the city council building. |
| Sloviansk's rebel mayor said fighters had left, with reports saying they had headed towards the town of Kramatorsk. | Sloviansk's rebel mayor said fighters had left, with reports saying they had headed towards the town of Kramatorsk. |
| Ukrainian forces launched an offensive against the separatists this week after a 10-day ceasefire broke down. | Ukrainian forces launched an offensive against the separatists this week after a 10-day ceasefire broke down. |
| The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says if Ukrainian forces take Sloviansk it will be a major victory. | |
| 'Surrendering' | 'Surrendering' |
| Sloviansk's rebel-backed mayor, Vladimir Pavlenko, confirmed to Agence France-Presse news agency that the separatists had left. | |
| But he said the Ukrainian military had not yet taken over. | |
| The Associated Press news agency quoted Andrei Purgin, a spokesman for the separatists' self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, as also saying that the rebels were evacuating, following an army offensive that had left the town "in ruins". | The Associated Press news agency quoted Andrei Purgin, a spokesman for the separatists' self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, as also saying that the rebels were evacuating, following an army offensive that had left the town "in ruins". |
| Another rebel commander told AP they were moving to Kramatorsk. | Another rebel commander told AP they were moving to Kramatorsk. |
| Witnesses said there was bombing overnight in Sloviansk and in the morning the rebel-manned checkpoints had been abandoned. | Witnesses said there was bombing overnight in Sloviansk and in the morning the rebel-manned checkpoints had been abandoned. |
| Interior Minister Arsen Avakov earlier said on Facebook that a large number of insurgents had left Sloviansk. | Interior Minister Arsen Avakov earlier said on Facebook that a large number of insurgents had left Sloviansk. |
| He said the rebels were "suffering losses and surrendering" after being met by Ukrainian forces. | He said the rebels were "suffering losses and surrendering" after being met by Ukrainian forces. |
| Mr Avakov said "some intelligence suggests" that the military commander of the self-declared Donetsk Peoples' Republic (DPR), Igor Strelkov, was among those leaving, but this has not been confirmed. | Mr Avakov said "some intelligence suggests" that the military commander of the self-declared Donetsk Peoples' Republic (DPR), Igor Strelkov, was among those leaving, but this has not been confirmed. |
| The commander, whose real name is Igor Girkin, is accused by Ukraine's government and the European Union of being a Russian military intelligence officer. | The commander, whose real name is Igor Girkin, is accused by Ukraine's government and the European Union of being a Russian military intelligence officer. |
| Mr Poroshenko's website said he had given the order "for the state flag to be raised on Sloviansk's town council offices". | Mr Poroshenko's website said he had given the order "for the state flag to be raised on Sloviansk's town council offices". |
| It said the separatists had lost one tank and four armoured vehicles as they left town. | It said the separatists had lost one tank and four armoured vehicles as they left town. |
| In a separate development, Russian news agency Interfax reported that Ukrainian forces had destroyed the headquarters of the DPR in the town of Artemivsk. | In a separate development, Russian news agency Interfax reported that Ukrainian forces had destroyed the headquarters of the DPR in the town of Artemivsk. |
| Diplomatic moves | Diplomatic moves |
| There has been intense diplomatic activity this week to try to reinstate the ceasefire, with telephone calls involving Germany, France, the US, Russia and Ukraine. | There has been intense diplomatic activity this week to try to reinstate the ceasefire, with telephone calls involving Germany, France, the US, Russia and Ukraine. |
| Mr Poroshenko said he was ready to return to a ceasefire provided it was observed by both sides, all hostages were freed and borders secured by government forces. | Mr Poroshenko said he was ready to return to a ceasefire provided it was observed by both sides, all hostages were freed and borders secured by government forces. |
| Our correspondent in Kiev says talks to try to end the fighting were supposed to begin on Saturday, but so far no meeting has been announced. | |
| Human cost of conflict | Human cost of conflict |
| At least 250 civilians killed in eastern Ukraine since April, according to Ukrainian and rebel reports | At least 250 civilians killed in eastern Ukraine since April, according to Ukrainian and rebel reports |
| Nearly 200 soldiers killed and 619 wounded since April, according to Ukrainian defence ministry | Nearly 200 soldiers killed and 619 wounded since April, according to Ukrainian defence ministry |
| At least 800 rebels killed since April, according to rebels | At least 800 rebels killed since April, according to rebels |
| At least 110,000 people have left Ukraine for Russia this year to date, most of them from eastern regions, according to the UN | At least 110,000 people have left Ukraine for Russia this year to date, most of them from eastern regions, according to the UN |
| Some 54,400 people have been displaced within Ukraine itself, the UN says | Some 54,400 people have been displaced within Ukraine itself, the UN says |
| Mr Poroshenko called off a unilateral truce on 30 June, accusing the rebels of staging deadly attacks on Ukrainian government troops. | Mr Poroshenko called off a unilateral truce on 30 June, accusing the rebels of staging deadly attacks on Ukrainian government troops. |
| Violence erupted in eastern Ukraine in April, when the separatists declared independence in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | Violence erupted in eastern Ukraine in April, when the separatists declared independence in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
| That followed Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea. | That followed Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea. |
| The current Ukraine crisis started last November, when then President Viktor Yanukovych decided, under pressure from Russia, not to sign an agreement with the EU, leading to street protests in Kiev and his eventual overthrow. | The current Ukraine crisis started last November, when then President Viktor Yanukovych decided, under pressure from Russia, not to sign an agreement with the EU, leading to street protests in Kiev and his eventual overthrow. |
| President Poroshenko signed the free trade part of the EU deal in Brussels on 27 June, after earlier signing the political co-operation clauses. | President Poroshenko signed the free trade part of the EU deal in Brussels on 27 June, after earlier signing the political co-operation clauses. |
| Are you in the area? Do you have any information you wish to share? Send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Ukraine'. | Are you in the area? Do you have any information you wish to share? Send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line '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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