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Ukraine conflict: Donetsk rebels parade captured soldiers | Ukraine conflict: Donetsk rebels parade captured soldiers |
(35 minutes later) | |
Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have marched dozens of captured government soldiers through the city of Donetsk. | |
The incident came as Ukraine said it would spend $3bn (£1.8bn) on re-equipping the army to fight the rebels. | The incident came as Ukraine said it would spend $3bn (£1.8bn) on re-equipping the army to fight the rebels. |
President Petro Poroshenko made the announcement ahead of a military parade to mark Independence Day in Kiev. | |
More than 2,000 people have died in recent months in fighting between government forces and the separatists. | More than 2,000 people have died in recent months in fighting between government forces and the separatists. |
Some 330,000 have fled their homes because of the unrest in eastern Ukraine. | Some 330,000 have fled their homes because of the unrest in eastern Ukraine. |
The violence 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 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. |
'Constant military threat' | 'Constant military threat' |
On Sunday, the rebels force-marched Ukrainians soldiers through the centre of Donetsk. | On Sunday, the rebels force-marched Ukrainians soldiers through the centre of Donetsk. |
Crowds lined the streets chanting "fascists" as the dishevelled-looking prisoners walked by. Some people threw bottles at the captives, Reuters news agency reports. | Crowds lined the streets chanting "fascists" as the dishevelled-looking prisoners walked by. Some people threw bottles at the captives, Reuters news agency reports. |
Donetsk has been the scene of the heaviest fighting since the conflict began. | Donetsk has been the scene of the heaviest fighting since the conflict began. |
Ukraine's defence ministry condemned the parading of captured Ukrainian soldiers. | |
"The organisers of this disgusting event cannot be considered human," a spokesman told Interfax-Ukraine news agency. "Nothing is holy" for them, he added. | |
In the capital Kiev, President Poroshenko warned that a "constant military threat will hang over Ukraine" for the foreseeable future. | |
He said the $3bn investment would be spread out over two years, from 2015-2017. | He said the $3bn investment would be spread out over two years, from 2015-2017. |
"The events of the last months have for us turned into a real war, albeit an undeclared one," Mr Poroshenko said in a televised speech on Sunday. | "The events of the last months have for us turned into a real war, albeit an undeclared one," Mr Poroshenko said in a televised speech on Sunday. |
"Over the last six months, a new Ukrainian army has been born in heavy and exhausting fighting." | "Over the last six months, a new Ukrainian army has been born in heavy and exhausting fighting." |
The military parade featured hundreds of marching servicemen and military hardware. Some critics called the event inappropriate because Ukraine was at war. | The military parade featured hundreds of marching servicemen and military hardware. Some critics called the event inappropriate because Ukraine was at war. |
A naval parade is also being held in the port of Odessa. | A naval parade is also 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. | These are the first military parades since 2009, when the previous pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, abolished them. |
Prayers were said and wreaths laid for those who fought on the Ukrainian government side, including those killed during protests against Mr Yanukovych in Kiev last winter. | Prayers were said and wreaths laid for those who fought on the Ukrainian government side, including those killed during protests against Mr Yanukovych in Kiev last winter. |
Separately, 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, had been arrested. | Separately, 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, had been arrested. |
On Saturday, Germany urged both sides to strive for a new ceasefire, warning that Russia could face new sanctions over its alleged interference in Ukraine. | On Saturday, Germany urged both sides to strive for a new ceasefire, warning that Russia could face new sanctions over its alleged interference in Ukraine. |
Meanwhile, lorries from an unauthorised Russian aid convoy which had crossed into eastern Ukraine returned to Russia. | Meanwhile, 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 drinks. | Western officials fear the trucks may have held military equipment to help the rebels, but Russia said they had delivered generators, food and drinks. |
Key negotiations between President Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin and EU officials are due to take place in Minsk on Tuesday. | 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. |
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