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| Ukraine crisis: Donetsk rebels in mass withdrawal | Ukraine crisis: Donetsk rebels in mass withdrawal |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ukrainian separatist rebels have pulled back to the main city of Donetsk, abandoning several strongholds in the Donetsk region to government forces. | Ukrainian separatist rebels have pulled back to the main city of Donetsk, abandoning several strongholds in the Donetsk region to government forces. |
| The pro-Russian gunmen abandoned the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, as well as some smaller towns, in the north of Donetsk region. | The pro-Russian gunmen abandoned the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, as well as some smaller towns, in the north of Donetsk region. |
| But they have vowed to continue the fight from Donetsk city, describing the withdrawal as a tactical retreat. | But they have vowed to continue the fight from Donetsk city, describing the withdrawal as a tactical retreat. |
| Ukrainian forces launched an offensive this week after a truce broke down. | Ukrainian forces launched an offensive this week after a truce broke down. |
| The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says the military's capture of Sloviansk, where the eastern insurgency began in April, is a major victory for the government. | The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says the military's capture of Sloviansk, where the eastern insurgency began in April, is a major victory for the government. |
| The government said in a statement that the rebels had fled after mortar shelling from government forces. | The government said in a statement that the rebels had fled after mortar shelling from government forces. |
| Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said the breakthrough was "the beginning of the turning point in the fight against militants". | |
| "This is not complete victory. But the cleansing of Sloviansk from gangs who are armed to the teeth is of huge symbolic importance," he said in a statement. | "This is not complete victory. But the cleansing of Sloviansk from gangs who are armed to the teeth is of huge symbolic importance," he said in a statement. |
| Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev | Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev |
| Of the government's victories so far, the retaking of Sloviansk and raising of the Ukrainian flag over city hall is by far the most significant. The city was not just a command centre for the insurgency - it was a symbol of the militants' continuing ability to thwart Kiev's attempts to reassert control in the east. | Of the government's victories so far, the retaking of Sloviansk and raising of the Ukrainian flag over city hall is by far the most significant. The city was not just a command centre for the insurgency - it was a symbol of the militants' continuing ability to thwart Kiev's attempts to reassert control in the east. |
| Now, it appears that the insurgents may also be evacuating Kramatorsk, another key city. But the question is whether this is a turning point in the war, or merely a shifting of the battlefield. | Now, it appears that the insurgents may also be evacuating Kramatorsk, another key city. But the question is whether this is a turning point in the war, or merely a shifting of the battlefield. |
| The rebels are calling this a tactical retreat, which is typically a euphemism for a defeat. But if they are moving en masse to Donetsk, it could still present a major military challenge to government forces. It could also convince the rebels to engage in ceasefire talks more actively - if only to buy more time. | The rebels are calling this a tactical retreat, which is typically a euphemism for a defeat. But if they are moving en masse to Donetsk, it could still present a major military challenge to government forces. It could also convince the rebels to engage in ceasefire talks more actively - if only to buy more time. |
| Ukraine crisis timeline | Ukraine crisis timeline |
| Some rebels were initially quoted as saying they were heading to the nearby city of Kramatorsk. | Some rebels were initially quoted as saying they were heading to the nearby city of Kramatorsk. |
| But it later emerged that the pro-Russian fighters had also abandoned their posts there, and were apparently heading south to the regional capital. | But it later emerged that the pro-Russian fighters had also abandoned their posts there, and were apparently heading south to the regional capital. |
| Alexander Borodai, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said the rebels had abandoned the entire "northern sector". | Alexander Borodai, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said the rebels had abandoned the entire "northern sector". |
| The pro-Russian authorities in Donetsk city said rebel fighters had begun to arrive from the north, and urged residents to stay in their homes. | The pro-Russian authorities in Donetsk city said rebel fighters had begun to arrive from the north, and urged residents to stay in their homes. |
| Rebel leaders were quoted as saying the decision to abandon Sloviansk was taken by Igor Strelkov, the military commander of the self-declared Donetsk Peoples' Republic (DPR). | Rebel leaders were quoted as saying the decision to abandon Sloviansk was taken by Igor Strelkov, the military commander of the self-declared Donetsk Peoples' Republic (DPR). |
| Mr Strelkov, whose real name is Igor Girkin, had pleaded for Russian intervention on Friday saying his men had lost the will to fight. | Mr Strelkov, whose real name is Igor Girkin, had pleaded for Russian intervention on Friday saying his men had lost the will to fight. |
| Who is Igor Strelkov? | Who is Igor Strelkov? |
| Violence erupted in eastern Ukraine in April, when separatists declared independence in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | Violence erupted in eastern Ukraine in April, when separatists declared independence in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
| Earlier this week, the government claimed to have retaken two-thirds of the territory in those regions. | Earlier this week, the government claimed to have retaken two-thirds of the territory in those regions. |
| The rebels are still in control of the regional capitals of both Donetsk and Luhansk. | The rebels are still in control of the regional capitals of both Donetsk and Luhansk. |
| The current crisis started when President Viktor Yanukovych decided last November not to sign an agreement with the EU. | The current crisis started when President Viktor Yanukovych decided last November not to sign an agreement with the EU. |
| The decision led to street protests in Kiev, and Mr Yanukovych was eventually overthrown. | |
| The developments angered Russia, which annexed Ukraine's Crimea region. | The developments angered Russia, which annexed Ukraine's Crimea region. |
| 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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