This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28191833
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine to lay siege to rebel-held regional centres | Ukraine to lay siege to rebel-held regional centres |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ukraine is to blockade two major cities still in rebel hands as it continues its operation against pro-Russian separatists, a senior official says. | Ukraine is to blockade two major cities still in rebel hands as it continues its operation against pro-Russian separatists, a senior official says. |
| The government says its forces have retaken two more eastern towns, Artemivsk and Druzhkivka. | The government says its forces have retaken two more eastern towns, Artemivsk and Druzhkivka. |
| The official said they would now lay siege to the regional centres of Luhansk and Donetsk. | |
| Government forces regained control of the key rebel strongholds of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk on Saturday. | Government forces regained control of the key rebel strongholds of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk on Saturday. |
| Senior Ukrainian security official Mykhaylo Koval told Ukrainian television: "There is a clear strategic plan, which has been approved. The plan is focused on two major regional centres: Luhansk and Donetsk. These cities will be completely blockaded," he said. | Senior Ukrainian security official Mykhaylo Koval told Ukrainian television: "There is a clear strategic plan, which has been approved. The plan is focused on two major regional centres: Luhansk and Donetsk. 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." | "These measures will result in the separatists - let us call them bandits - being forced to lay down arms." |
| The level of support for the militants in the two regional capitals is unclear. However, several thousand people joined a rally in Donetsk on Sunday attended by leaders of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic. | The level of support for the militants in the two regional capitals is unclear. However, several thousand people joined a rally in Donetsk on Sunday attended by leaders of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic. |
| The separatists declared independence in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions after Russia annexed the Crimea region in March. | The separatists declared independence in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions after Russia annexed the Crimea region in March. |
| Despite their defeats in four towns and cities in the past three days, rebel units have staged several attacks on Ukrainian army positions in the past 24 hours, according to the defence ministry in Kiev. | Despite their defeats in four towns and cities in the past three days, rebel units have staged several attacks on Ukrainian army positions in the past 24 hours, according to the defence ministry in Kiev. |
| Overnight into Monday, the pro-Russian insurgents fired mortar rounds and machine guns at checkpoints around four towns, Interfax Ukraine news agency reported. | Overnight into Monday, the pro-Russian insurgents fired mortar rounds and machine guns at checkpoints around four towns, Interfax Ukraine news agency reported. |
| On Sunday, the website of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the national flag was raised in Artemivsk and Druzhkivka. | On Sunday, the website of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the national flag was raised in Artemivsk and Druzhkivka. |
| The two towns are not considered as strategic as Sloviansk, but retaking them indicates momentum is currently with government forces, says the BBC's David Stern in Kiev says. | The two towns are not considered as strategic as Sloviansk, but retaking them indicates momentum is currently with government forces, says the BBC's David Stern in Kiev says. |
| In a separate development, the government in Kiev said it had begun transferring pensions to Sloviansk and the nearby city of Kramatorsk, which was also recaptured from rebels on Saturday. | In a separate development, the government in Kiev said it had begun transferring pensions to Sloviansk and the nearby city of Kramatorsk, which was also recaptured from rebels on Saturday. |
| Donetsk regional governor Serhiy Taruta said he thought electricity and health services could be up and running again during the week. | Donetsk regional governor Serhiy Taruta said he thought electricity and health services could be up and running again during the week. |
| "The task now is to get the hospital working since it is without electricity; then water, sewage, and we will work on all social services," he was quoted as saying by Interfax Ukraine news agency. | "The task now is to get the hospital working since it is without electricity; then water, sewage, and we will work on all social services," he was quoted as saying by Interfax Ukraine news agency. |
| Representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Europe met on Sunday to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine, but OSCE officials said no breakthrough was achieved. | Representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Europe met on Sunday to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine, but OSCE officials said no breakthrough was achieved. |
| Tensions remain high, our correspondent adds; in Kiev, local reports said unknown gunmen had opened fire early on Monday morning at a tent camp in the city centre, causing injuries, but no deaths. | Tensions remain high, our correspondent adds; in Kiev, local reports said unknown gunmen had opened fire early on Monday morning at a tent camp in the city centre, causing injuries, but no deaths. |
| Russian press reaction to the re-taking of Sloviansk | Russian press reaction to the re-taking of Sloviansk |
| Moskovsky Komsomolets: "For many Russians, the incorporation of Crimea was the happiest political moment in many years. Russia showed what it can do if it really wants to. The bloody slaughter in south-eastern Ukraine has shown the opposite. Russia has become aware of its limitations. We are powerless to avert the tragedy taking place just across our border." | Moskovsky Komsomolets: "For many Russians, the incorporation of Crimea was the happiest political moment in many years. Russia showed what it can do if it really wants to. The bloody slaughter in south-eastern Ukraine has shown the opposite. Russia has become aware of its limitations. We are powerless to avert the tragedy taking place just across our border." |
| Rossiyskaya Gazeta: "Despite bravura reports, this 'victory' has been a Pyrrhic one for the Ukrainian army. In the wake of the massive ground and air bombardment, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and especially adjacent towns are more than half destroyed - they have been turned into ghost towns. The destroyed infrastructure will take weeks, if not months, to rebuild." | Rossiyskaya Gazeta: "Despite bravura reports, this 'victory' has been a Pyrrhic one for the Ukrainian army. In the wake of the massive ground and air bombardment, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and especially adjacent towns are more than half destroyed - they have been turned into ghost towns. The destroyed infrastructure will take weeks, if not months, to rebuild." |
| Kommersant: "A breakthrough is emerging in the confrontation in eastern Ukraine. The capture of Sloviansk, which was considered to be the symbol of resistance, has been the government forces' biggest success over two months of fighting. Though the militia has called its retreat a 'tactical manoeuvre' and Kiev has a big temptation to fight until a total victory, the two sides will have to reach an agreement, otherwise this will be a long war." | Kommersant: "A breakthrough is emerging in the confrontation in eastern Ukraine. The capture of Sloviansk, which was considered to be the symbol of resistance, has been the government forces' biggest success over two months of fighting. Though the militia has called its retreat a 'tactical manoeuvre' and Kiev has a big temptation to fight until a total victory, the two sides will have to reach an agreement, otherwise this will be a long war." |
| Vedomosti: "The [pro-Russian militants'] departure can mean the start of an urban guerrilla war, similar to the kind practised by leftists and some nationalists in Latin America and Europe in between the 1950s and 1980s. They tried to undermine the state by resorting to quick attacks and assaults on government institutions, police and army units, raiding banks and factories, and also taking hostages." | Vedomosti: "The [pro-Russian militants'] departure can mean the start of an urban guerrilla war, similar to the kind practised by leftists and some nationalists in Latin America and Europe in between the 1950s and 1980s. They tried to undermine the state by resorting to quick attacks and assaults on government institutions, police and army units, raiding banks and factories, and also taking hostages." |
| 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. | 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. | The rebels said they had staged a "tactical retreat" to Donetsk. |
| The current crisis started last November when then President Viktor Yanukovych decided not to sign an agreement with the EU. | 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 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. | 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. | Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of fomenting unrest, a claim strongly denied by the Kremlin. |
| Are you in the area? Do you have any information you would like to share? Please 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 would like to share? Please send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Ukraine'. |