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Ukraine to lay siege to rebel-held regional centres Ukraine crisis: Bridges destroyed outside Donetsk
(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. Three bridges have been destroyed on roads leading into the city of Donetsk on Monday ahead of an expected offensive from government forces.
The government says its forces have retaken two more eastern towns, Artemivsk and Druzhkivka. It was unclear who was behind the explosions but Ukrainian media said the bridges were blown up by rebels as Ukraine's military advanced.
The official said they would now lay siege to the regional centres of Luhansk and Donetsk. Ukrainian troops 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. A journalist in Donetsk says civilians in the city are preparing for fighting.
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. "For the moment there are no gunfights but people are really scared," Yevgeny Shibalov told BBC Newshour.
"A lot of shops are closed and some banks officially declared they are closing their branches in the city," he added.
Separatist fighters driven out of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk at the weekend have regrouped in Donetsk.
A railway line in the village of Novobakhmutivka that crosses over a main road out of Donetsk was targeted, leaving a large cargo train dangling across the void.
A witness told the AP news agency that he saw a group of camouflaged men get into their cars and head towards Donetsk shortly before the bridge collapsed after an explosion.
Two other bridges on roads leading from Sloviansk to Donetsk were also destroyed in the villages of Zakitne and Seleznevka, Ukraine's transportation authority said on Monday.
Ukraine's 5 Channel TV said militants had carried out the attacks, quoting state railways as saying reparing the bridges could take a month and a half.
Mykhaylo Koval, a senior Ukrainian security official, said government troops were preparing to continues the operation against the separatists.
"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," Mr Koval 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. On Sunday, the website of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the national flag had been raised in the towns of Artemivsk and Druzhkivka.
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.
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 SlovianskRussian 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.
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 decision led to street protests in Kiev, and Mr Yanukovych was eventually overthrown.
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.
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'.