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Ukraine crisis: Army closes in on Donetsk rebels | Ukraine crisis: Army closes in on Donetsk rebels |
(about 1 hour later) | |
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. | 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. |
A rebel leader said the army had taken Krasnyi Luch, a town between the rebel strongholds of Luhansk and Donetsk. | |
Another rebel leader later said he would accept a ceasefire to prevent the spread of a "humanitarian catastrophe". | |
Russia has renewed a call for an aid mission, a day after the US warned against using a mission to send troops. | |
Some 1,500 people are believed to have died since the conflict began in April, when rebels stormed cities in the east and took over government buildings. | |
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. |
'Completely encircled' | 'Completely encircled' |
Rebel commander Igor Girkin 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. |
Girkin, who is also known as Strelkov, said his men in the Donetsk region were "completely encircled". | 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. |
Aleksandr Zakharchenko, the newly installed political leader of the rebels in Donetsk, was later quoted as saying he would accept a ceasefire. | |
"We are prepared to stop firing to bar the spread of the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe," Zakharchenko said in a statement on a rebel website. | |
Russia, which is widely accused of supporting the rebels' efforts, also called for an "urgent action to avert an impending humanitarian crisis". | |
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had made the request during a phone call with US counterpart John Kerry. | |
"The minister urged support for Russia's initiative to deploy a humanitarian mission in the south-east in co-ordination with the relevant international structures," the statement said. | |
On Friday, the UK and US had warned Russia not to use a humanitarian mission as a pretext for sending its forces to help the rebels. | |
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. | 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. | 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 | 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. |
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. | 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. |
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