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Ukraine crisis: Shells hit Donetsk amid Russia convoy row | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Heavy shelling has hit the rebel-held Ukrainian city of Donetsk, amid a continuing row over a controversial Russian aid convoy. | |
People poured out of offices in the city centre after an evacuation warning sounded. At least one person has died. | |
Donetsk has been surrounded for several weeks by Ukrainian forces battling pro-Russian rebels. | Donetsk has been surrounded for several weeks by Ukrainian forces battling pro-Russian rebels. |
The convoy of at least 260 lorries carrying Russian aid has now halted, after moving towards the border. | |
There is continuing confusion over the final destination. On Thursday afternoon, the lorries had got to within a few miles of the border, where they had parked in a field, reports the BBC's Steve Rosenberg, who is following the convoy. | |
At the scene: BBC's Steve Rosenberg, with the Russian convoy | |
We followed the convoy for about nine hours, having left Voronezh before dawn. The convoy turned off the main highway - the M4 - on to a smaller road to the border. All the lorries are now parked here in a field. | |
We asked one commander to show us the contents of the lorries. He selected one, and it contained sleeping bags. But it was just one of at least 260 lorries. I cannot say accurately what the contents of the others are. The lorries will wait here until the convoy is given orders - but there is no indication when that will be. | |
I spoke to one driver. He was very anti-American and asked why the United States was trying to take Ukraine away from Russia. | |
The key question now is what Russia does next. If it takes the convoy across the border, it will be seen by the Ukrainian authorities as a major provocation. | |
Follow tweets @BBCSteveR | |
Russia has dismissed as absurd claims that its convoy is a pretext to send military supplies to the rebels. | Russia has dismissed as absurd claims that its convoy is a pretext to send military supplies to the rebels. |
But Ukraine has said the Russian convoy must be inspected by international monitors before it can be let in. | But Ukraine has said the Russian convoy must be inspected by international monitors before it can be let in. |
Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, said that if this did not happen, "movement of the convoy will be blocked with all the forces available". | |
Meanwhile, the situation is reported to be desperate in the rebel-held city of Luhansk, where civilians have been short of water, food and electricity for more than a week. Phone lines are also down as shelling continues. | Meanwhile, the situation is reported to be desperate in the rebel-held city of Luhansk, where civilians have been short of water, food and electricity for more than a week. Phone lines are also down as shelling continues. |
Putin visit | Putin visit |
Artillery fire could be heard all around Donetsk on Thursday, with the authorities urging people to stay off the streets. | |
Two shopping centres were reportedly hit. | |
It was unclear who had fired the shells. | |
One city resident, Valentina Smirnova, told Associated Press as she cleared up rubble: "My son left and now I am staying with my daughter. I don't know what to do afterwards. Where should I run to after that?" | |
A senior International Red Cross (ICRC) official, Laurent Corbaz, is flying to the Ukrainian capital Kiev and then on to Moscow to discuss the Russian aid initiative. | A senior International Red Cross (ICRC) official, Laurent Corbaz, is flying to the Ukrainian capital Kiev and then on to Moscow to discuss the Russian aid initiative. |
The ICRC says Ukraine and Russia need to clarify border crossing procedures. | The ICRC says Ukraine and Russia need to clarify border crossing procedures. |
Ukraine is also sending a humanitarian aid convoy to the east. | Ukraine is also sending a humanitarian aid convoy to the east. |
Some 75 lorries with 800 tonnes of aid left Kiev, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk for Luhansk on Thursday morning, the presidential website said. | Some 75 lorries with 800 tonnes of aid left Kiev, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk for Luhansk on Thursday morning, the presidential website said. |
Also on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting Crimea, where he has announced that he has approved a defence ministry plan to set up a "Russian military taskforce" in Crimea. But he says the taskforce will not be "excessive", Reuters reports. | Also on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting Crimea, where he has announced that he has approved a defence ministry plan to set up a "Russian military taskforce" in Crimea. But he says the taskforce will not be "excessive", Reuters reports. |
Russia annexed the territory from Ukraine in March, in a move that drew international condemnation. | Russia annexed the territory from Ukraine in March, in a move that drew international condemnation. |
Fighting in eastern Ukraine has intensified in recent weeks, with the UN saying there has been a spike in the number of deaths. | Fighting in eastern Ukraine has intensified in recent weeks, with the UN saying there has been a spike in the number of deaths. |
Some 2,086 people have been killed since the conflict began in mid-April, and more than half of them died in the past two weeks, the UN said. | Some 2,086 people have been killed since the conflict began in mid-April, and more than half of them died in the past two weeks, the UN said. |
The violence began when pro-Russian rebels seized government buildings and tried to declare independence. | The violence began when pro-Russian rebels seized government buildings and tried to declare independence. |
The military launched an operation to retake the east, and stepped up its activities in June. | The military launched an operation to retake the east, and stepped up its activities in June. |
Are you in the region? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine crisis' in the subject heading and including your contact details. | Are you in the region? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine crisis' in the subject heading and including your contact details. |