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Ukraine conflict: Army parade to mark independence | Ukraine conflict: Army parade to mark independence |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Ukraine is marking its independence day with a military parade in Kiev as fighting continues in the east. | |
The parade will feature hundreds of marching servicemen and military hardware. Critics say that it is inappropriate when Ukraine is at war. | The parade will feature hundreds of marching servicemen and military hardware. Critics say that it is inappropriate when Ukraine is at war. |
Pro-Russian rebels in the eastern city of Donetsk - the scene of the heaviest fighting - say they will hold their own parade and display captured soldiers. | |
Four months of fighting in the east have left more than 2,000 people dead. | |
More than 330,000 people have fled their homes. | More than 330,000 people have fled their homes. |
The bodies of six civilians, including a child, were witnessed by an AFP correspondent in Donetsk on Saturday. | The bodies of six civilians, including a child, were witnessed by an AFP correspondent in Donetsk on Saturday. |
Morale booster? | Morale booster? |
The conflict continues as Ukraine marks the 23rd anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union. | The conflict continues as Ukraine marks the 23rd anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union. |
On Saturday Kiev marked the Day of the National Flag. Sunday's independence events include a parade involving military hardware and several hundred service personnel. | |
A naval parade is being held in the port of Odessa. | |
These are the first military parades since 2009, when the previous pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, abolished them. | |
A prayer will be said and wreaths laid for those who have died for an independent Ukraine, including those killed during protests against Mr Yanukovych in Kiev last winter. | A prayer will be said and wreaths laid for those who have died for an independent Ukraine, including those killed during protests against Mr Yanukovych in Kiev last winter. |
Supporters say the parade should boost army morale, but critics say the show of strength is a waste of money and inappropriate when people are dying in the east. | |
Meanwhile, security officials quoted by Ukrainian media said that five people accused of planning attacks on bases for pro-government volunteers in the Kiev area, timed to coincide with the celebrations, have been arrested. | |
In Donetsk, rebels put on display two destroyed armoured personnel carriers, and there are plans to parade prisoners of war through the streets. | In Donetsk, rebels put on display two destroyed armoured personnel carriers, and there are plans to parade prisoners of war through the streets. |
The events come a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged both sides in the conflict to strive for a new ceasefire. | The events come a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged both sides in the conflict to strive for a new ceasefire. |
She cautioned that Russia - already subjected to punishing EU and US sanctions over its alleged interference in Ukraine - could face further punitive measures. | She cautioned that Russia - already subjected to punishing EU and US sanctions over its alleged interference in Ukraine - could face further punitive measures. |
Her visit to Kiev took place as lorries from an unauthorised Russian aid convoy which had crossed into eastern Ukraine returned to Russia. | |
Western officials fear the trucks may have held military equipment to help the rebels, but Russia said they had delivered generators, food and drink. | |
The violence in the east erupted when pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared independence from Kiev, after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March. | The violence in the east erupted when pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared independence from Kiev, after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March. |
Key negotiations between President Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin and EU officials are due to take place in Minsk on Tuesday. | |
Are you in Ukraine? Have you been affected by the unrest? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Ukraine? Have you been affected by the unrest? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |