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| Ukraine forces clash with separatists at Donetsk airport | Ukraine forces clash with separatists at Donetsk airport |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Ukrainian troops have clashed with pro-Russian separatists who were trying to capture Donetsk airport in the east. | Ukrainian troops have clashed with pro-Russian separatists who were trying to capture Donetsk airport in the east. |
| The army has been gaining ground in its efforts to blockade the city, after rebel forces retreated there. | The army has been gaining ground in its efforts to blockade the city, after rebel forces retreated there. |
| Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been urged by his French and German counterparts to help bring the separatists to the negotiating table. | Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been urged by his French and German counterparts to help bring the separatists to the negotiating table. |
| Ukraine's military has made significant gains in recent days, recapturing the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk. | Ukraine's military has made significant gains in recent days, recapturing the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk. |
| Since then, the rebels have been forced out of a string of eastern towns. The army said on Thursday it had also recaptured the town of Siversk. | Since then, the rebels have been forced out of a string of eastern towns. The army said on Thursday it had also recaptured the town of Siversk. |
| Separatists declared independence in the two eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk after Russia annexed Crimea, another Ukrainian region, in March. | Separatists declared independence in the two eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk after Russia annexed Crimea, another Ukrainian region, in March. |
| Rebels seized the airport to the north-west of Donetsk in May but Ukrainian forces recaptured it after a battle in which dozens of people died. | Rebels seized the airport to the north-west of Donetsk in May but Ukrainian forces recaptured it after a battle in which dozens of people died. |
| A military spokesman said the insurgents had fired mortar rounds at the airport on Thursday but the attack had failed. | A military spokesman said the insurgents had fired mortar rounds at the airport on Thursday but the attack had failed. |
| Evacuation | Evacuation |
| In a statement, the interior ministry said that it had launched a military push "across several parts of the (Donetsk) front", reports AFP news agency. | In a statement, the interior ministry said that it had launched a military push "across several parts of the (Donetsk) front", reports AFP news agency. |
| The separatists' military leader, Igor Strelkov, vowed to defend the city and its suburbs and prevent it from being blockaded from the east and north-east. "We are counting on military support from the Luhansk republic in this respect, and we are confident that we have enough reserves to fulfil this task." | The separatists' military leader, Igor Strelkov, vowed to defend the city and its suburbs and prevent it from being blockaded from the east and north-east. "We are counting on military support from the Luhansk republic in this respect, and we are confident that we have enough reserves to fulfil this task." |
| Meanwhile, there are reports of divisions forming between the rebel groups. The volunteer Vostok (East) battalion, commanded by Alexander Khodakovsky, said it was refusing to submit to the overall rebel command. | Meanwhile, there are reports of divisions forming between the rebel groups. The volunteer Vostok (East) battalion, commanded by Alexander Khodakovsky, said it was refusing to submit to the overall rebel command. |
| Since Igor Strelkov pulled rebel forces out of their stronghold in Sloviansk on Saturday, the pro-Russian militants have been regrouping, setting up extra checkpoints and stepping up police patrols around Donetsk, says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg, in the city. | Since Igor Strelkov pulled rebel forces out of their stronghold in Sloviansk on Saturday, the pro-Russian militants have been regrouping, setting up extra checkpoints and stepping up police patrols around Donetsk, says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg, in the city. |
| Donetsk is bracing itself for war, with many of its shops and banks shut and people leaving town many fearing a human catastrophe if the Ukrainian army starts shelling, he adds. | Donetsk is bracing itself for war, with many of its shops and banks shut and people leaving town many fearing a human catastrophe if the Ukrainian army starts shelling, he adds. |
| Another leader of the self-declared Donetsk people's republic, Alexander Borodai, threatened a mass pull-out of civilians from the city, which has a population of more than one million. | Another leader of the self-declared Donetsk people's republic, Alexander Borodai, threatened a mass pull-out of civilians from the city, which has a population of more than one million. |
| "This will be hundreds of thousands of people. This is an inevitability we have to face, to avoid civilian casualties," he told reporters. | "This will be hundreds of thousands of people. This is an inevitability we have to face, to avoid civilian casualties," he told reporters. |
| He said evacuation was necessary because the rebels had not received enough shipments of arms from Russia. | He said evacuation was necessary because the rebels had not received enough shipments of arms from Russia. |
| "Russia must be ready to receive several hundred thousand refugees," he said. However, he later indicated the evacuation would involve tens of thousands of civilians. | |
| More than 1,000 people, both civilians and combatants, are believed to have been killed since the uprising began in April. | More than 1,000 people, both civilians and combatants, are believed to have been killed since the uprising began in April. |
| Are you in east Ukraine? How has the violence affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Ukraine'. |