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Ukraine says forces retake two more rebel-held cities | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The Ukrainian government says its forces have retaken two more eastern cities from pro-Russian rebels. | |
The website of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the national flag was raised in Artyomivsk and Druzhkivka. | |
It comes a day after government forces regained control of the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk. | |
Meanwhile, large crowds have attended a rally in the regional capital, Donetsk, in support of the rebels. | |
Rebel fighters have re-grouped in Donetsk and are reported to have attacked the state prison guard headquarters in an attempt to seize weapons. | |
The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says Artyomivsk and Druzhkivka are not considered as strategic as Sloviansk but re-taking them indicates momentum is currently with government forces. | |
Despite their recent losses, the rebels still hold the regional capitals of Donetsk and Luhansk and other key areas. | |
However, senior Ukrainian security official Mykhaylo Koval said Luhansk and Donetsk would now be besieged until separatist forces there surrendered. | |
"There is a clear strategic plan, which has been approved. These cities will be completely blockaded," he said. | |
"These measures will result in the separatists - let us call them bandits - being forced to lay down arms." | |
Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev | Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev |
On Saturday morning, the insurgents abruptly abandoned two of their main bases of operations, cities which they triumphantly overran three months ago and have maintained as a symbol of their dominance in Ukraine's east. | On Saturday morning, the insurgents abruptly abandoned two of their main bases of operations, cities which they triumphantly overran three months ago and have maintained as a symbol of their dominance in Ukraine's east. |
The question that no-one can answer right now, however, is whether this in fact constitutes a turning point in the conflict. | The question that no-one can answer right now, however, is whether this in fact constitutes a turning point in the conflict. |
The rebels still seem to have large numbers in their ranks, and significant stores of weapons and military hardware. They continue to control a decent amount of territory in the east, though this apparently has been circumscribed somewhat in recent days. | The rebels still seem to have large numbers in their ranks, and significant stores of weapons and military hardware. They continue to control a decent amount of territory in the east, though this apparently has been circumscribed somewhat in recent days. |
They say they are motivated and will fight to the last man. | They say they are motivated and will fight to the last man. |
Nevertheless, there are indications that the fall of Sloviansk may indeed have been a watershed moment. | Nevertheless, there are indications that the fall of Sloviansk may indeed have been a watershed moment. |
Sloviansk: Turning point for Ukraine? | Sloviansk: Turning point for Ukraine? |
Ukraine crisis timeline | Ukraine crisis timeline |
At the rally in central Donetsk, separatist fighters were cheered by thousands of supporters waving the flags of Russia and of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. | |
Many called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to their aid. | |
Correspondents said armed fighters from Sloviansk could be seen walking through Donetsk on Sunday, many still wearing military camouflage. | |
Pavel Gubarev, the self-proclaimed governor of the Donetsk People's Republic, told the crowd: "We will begin a real partisan war around the whole perimeter of Donetsk. We will drown these wretches in blood." | |
In another development, Ukraine's prison service chief said rebels had attacked and destroyed the prison guard's headquarters in Donetsk in a bid to seize weapons. Serhiy Starenkyy told Interfax-Ukraine news agency that staff had been evacuated. | |
President Poroshenko said the recapture of Sloviansk on Saturday was "the start of a turning point in the fight against the militants". | |
But he warned it was too early for celebrations. | |
The rebels said they had staged a "tactical retreat" to Donetsk. | |
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said some rebels had surrendered or were trying to escape by blending in with the civilian population. | |
But those who remained appeared to be heading next for the town of Horlivka, he said on his Facebook page, and were being confronted on the road by government troops. | |
The current crisis started last November when then President Viktor Yanukovych decided 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. |
Violence erupted in eastern Ukraine in April, when pro-Russian separatists declared independence in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | |
Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of fomenting unrest, a claim strongly denied by the Kremlin. |