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-28724487
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine crisis: Army closes in on Donetsk rebels | Ukraine crisis: Army closes in on Donetsk rebels |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Reports suggest Ukrainian government forces are poised to surround pro-Russian separatist rebels in Donetsk region as fierce fighting continues. | Reports suggest Ukrainian government forces are poised to surround pro-Russian separatist rebels in Donetsk region as fierce fighting continues. |
| The rebels' commander is quoted as saying his forces have been cut off after Krasnyi Luch, a strategic town to the east, was captured by the army. | The rebels' commander is quoted as saying his forces have been cut off after Krasnyi Luch, a strategic town to the east, was captured by the army. |
| However, a rebel politician in Donetsk insisted there were still corridors from the city to the east. | However, a rebel politician in Donetsk insisted there were still corridors from the city to the east. |
| The Ukrainian government says 13 soldiers were killed on Friday. | The Ukrainian government says 13 soldiers were killed on Friday. |
| A civilian was killed in Donetsk on Saturday when a shell hit a street in the city's Kirovskyy district, the city's official authorities reported. Shells also hit the Petrovskyy district, they added. | A civilian was killed in Donetsk on Saturday when a shell hit a street in the city's Kirovskyy district, the city's official authorities reported. Shells also hit the Petrovskyy district, they added. |
| The new government is battling an insurrection by pro-Russian separatist rebels in a conflict that is believed to have cost at least 1,500 lives since April. | The new government is battling an insurrection by pro-Russian separatist rebels in a conflict that is believed to have cost at least 1,500 lives since April. |
| In other developments | In other developments |
| 'Completely encircled' | 'Completely encircled' |
| Igor Girkin, the rebels' Russian commander who has taken the nom-de-guerre Strelkov, was quoted by Russian media as saying that Krasnyi Luch had been "captured" after Cossacks defending the town "ran away". | Igor Girkin, the rebels' Russian commander who has taken the nom-de-guerre Strelkov, was quoted by Russian media as saying that Krasnyi Luch had been "captured" after Cossacks defending the town "ran away". |
| A small detachment of rebels, he said, was still holding out in the town, which connects the city of Donetsk with Ukraine's Luhansk region on the Russian border. | A small detachment of rebels, he said, was still holding out in the town, which connects the city of Donetsk with Ukraine's Luhansk region on the Russian border. |
| "Novorossia's Donetsk-Horlivka group of troops is completely encircled," Strelkov reportedly added, referring to the area between Donetsk and the embattled town of Horlivka, 43km (27 miles) to the north-east. | "Novorossia's Donetsk-Horlivka group of troops is completely encircled," Strelkov reportedly added, referring to the area between Donetsk and the embattled town of Horlivka, 43km (27 miles) to the north-east. |
| Ukrainian security spokesman Andriy Lysenko said he could not confirm that government forces had taken Krasnyi Luch. | Ukrainian security spokesman Andriy Lysenko said he could not confirm that government forces had taken Krasnyi Luch. |
| Commenting on the news from Krasnyi Luch, Donetsk rebel official Andrei Purgin told Russia's Itar-Tass news agency there were still two corridors out of the city of one million people - through the town of Makiivka and the local power station. | Commenting on the news from Krasnyi Luch, Donetsk rebel official Andrei Purgin told Russia's Itar-Tass news agency there were still two corridors out of the city of one million people - through the town of Makiivka and the local power station. |
| Meanwhile, in the city of Luhansk, second only to Donetsk in its importance to the rebels, there are fears of a humanitarian disaster. | Meanwhile, in the city of Luhansk, second only to Donetsk in its importance to the rebels, there are fears of a humanitarian disaster. |
| The city council reported on its website (in Russian) on Saturday that the city of 425,000 people had been without electricity and power for a week and mobile phones and land lines were not working. | The city council reported on its website (in Russian) on Saturday that the city of 425,000 people had been without electricity and power for a week and mobile phones and land lines were not working. |
| Parts of the city were still being bombarded and most shops were shut, although bakeries and some chemist's shops remained opened, it added, quoting residents. | Parts of the city were still being bombarded and most shops were shut, although bakeries and some chemist's shops remained opened, it added, quoting residents. |
| Are you in Donetsk? Have you witnessed fighting in the area? Please send us your eyewitness accounts using the form below. Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Donetsk' in the heading, and include your contact details. | |
| 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. | |
| Read the terms and conditions |