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-28849795

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ukraine convoy attack near Luhansk leaves 'no survivors' Ukraine convoy attack: 'Bodies recovered' in Luhansk
(about 2 hours later)
No-one survived an attack on a convoy of refugees in the Luhansk area of eastern Ukraine on Monday, a rebel source has told the BBC. Fifteen bodies have been retrieved from the scene of an attack on a convoy of refugees in eastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian military spokesman says.
Details of the attack are still unclear but a Ukrainian military spokesman has said 15 bodies have so far been recovered from the scene. Earlier, a rebel source told the BBC no-one had survived an attack on a convoy of refugees in the Luhansk area on Monday.
Ukraine has accused pro-Russian rebels of attacking the convoy but they have denied involvement.Ukraine has accused pro-Russian rebels of attacking the convoy but they have denied involvement.
Meanwhile, heavy fighting is reported in the centre of Luhansk itself.Meanwhile, heavy fighting is reported in the centre of Luhansk itself.
The government in Kiev said on Tuesday that street battles were taking place and an interior ministry aide told the Interfax Ukraine agency that the military was recapturing the city "block by block".The government in Kiev said on Tuesday that street battles were taking place and an interior ministry aide told the Interfax Ukraine agency that the military was recapturing the city "block by block".
The city centre was reported to have been shelled on Monday night.The city centre was reported to have been shelled on Monday night.
Tens of thousands of civilians have fled Luhansk, one of two major cities held by pro-Russian rebels, as Ukrainian government forces advance. Tens of thousands of civilians have fled Luhansk, one of two major cities held by pro-Russian rebels, as Ukrainian government forces advance. The city is suffering acute shortages of water, food and electricity.
Clashes have also prevented the recovery of bodies from the scene of Monday's attack, on a road between Novosvitlivka and Khryashchuvatye.Clashes have also prevented the recovery of bodies from the scene of Monday's attack, on a road between Novosvitlivka and Khryashchuvatye.
A Luhansk rebel source told the BBC that everyone in the refugee convoy had died.
A Ukrainian military spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, said that by 19:00 (16:00 GMT) on Monday, 15 bodies had been retrieved.A Ukrainian military spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, said that by 19:00 (16:00 GMT) on Monday, 15 bodies had been retrieved.
He had earlier said dozens of civilians had been killed, including women and children, when mortar rounds and Grad rockets had been fired at the convoy of buses and cars.He had earlier said dozens of civilians had been killed, including women and children, when mortar rounds and Grad rockets had been fired at the convoy of buses and cars.
"The convoy had white flags and was marked as civilian," Mr Lysenko said."The convoy had white flags and was marked as civilian," Mr Lysenko said.
Although Ukrainian authorities in Kiev blamed the rebels for firing Grad rockets and mortar rounds at the convoy, Donetsk rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko was adamant that "not a single convoy of refugees was shot at in the Luhansk region." Ukrainian authorities in Kiev say the convoy was hit by Grad rockets and mortar rounds. However, a rebel source told the BBC that everyone in the convoy was killed when two buses carrying wounded civilians came under fire from foreign mercenaries fighting for the government.
Both sides have Russian-made Grad rockets, so verification of who carried out the attack will be complex. The defence ministry in Kiev has posted a video which it says shows survivors describing what happened.
One man describes a car being "torn to bits" by a mortar round while another says his mother-in-law died instantly and his daughter bled to death.
Later in the defence ministry video, a soldier says two Zil lorries carrying refugees were hit by two mortar rounds. One was damaged and the other completely destroyed, he says.
Establishing who attacked the convoy will be difficult as both sides have supplies of the Russian-made Grad rockets.
The separatists have lost control of several small towns in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in recent days.The separatists have lost control of several small towns in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in recent days.
Civilians remaining in the city of Luhansk are suffering chronic shortages of water, food and electricity. Government forces say they have taken control of most of the town of Ilovaisk in Donetsk.
But a prominent commander, Semen Semenchenko, suffered shrapnel wounds when his unit came under mortar attack in the town. He is considered one of the most popular of the volunteer commanders in Ukraine.
More than 2,000 civilians and combatants have been killed since mid-April, when Ukraine's government sent troops to put down the rebel uprising in the east.More than 2,000 civilians and combatants have been killed since mid-April, when Ukraine's government sent troops to put down the rebel uprising in the east.
Separatists in Luhansk and Donetsk declared independence from Kiev and proclaimed their own people's republics after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March.Separatists in Luhansk and Donetsk declared independence from Kiev and proclaimed their own people's republics after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March.
Eastern Ukraine - the increasing human costEastern Ukraine - the increasing human cost
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (figures from 15 August)Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (figures from 15 August)
Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the recent violence? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the recent violence? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.