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Ukraine crisis: Army closes in on Donetsk rebels Ukraine crisis: Army closes in on Donetsk rebels
(35 minutes later)
Ukrainian government forces are poised to surround pro-Russian separatist rebels in Donetsk region, reports suggest, as fierce fighting continues. Ukrainian government forces are poised to take a key town in the east, which would divide the last two major pro-Russian rebel groups, reports say.
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. A rebel commander was quoted as saying Krasnyi Luch, a town between the two rebel strongholds of Luhansk and Donetsk, had been captured by the army.
However, a rebel in Donetsk insisted there were still corridors to the east. Other rebels later said they would be willing to accept a ceasefire.
More than 1,500 people are believed to have died in the conflict between the government and pro-Russian rebels. Some 1,500 people are believed to have died since the conflict began in April, when rebels stormed cities in the east.
It began in April, when armed separatists captured key building across eastern Ukraine.
The government stepped up operations to retake rebel-held areas following the election of Petro Poroshenko as president in June.The government stepped up operations to retake rebel-held areas following the election of Petro Poroshenko as president in June.
In the latest violence, 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.
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". Rebel commander Igor Girkin 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. Girkin, who is also known as Strelkov, said his men in the Donetsk region were "completely encircled".
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. Aleksandr Zakharchenko, the newly installed political leader of the rebels in Donetsk, was later quoted by the AP news agency as saying he would accept a ceasefire.
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. Mobile phones and land lines were not working, it said.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. Mobile phones and land lines were not working, it said.
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.
Western government accuse Russia or arming the rebels, a claim the government in Moscow denies.Western government accuse Russia or arming the rebels, a claim the government in Moscow denies.
In the latest violence, 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.
In other developments
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.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.
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