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Fighting intensifies in Ukraine as pro-Russian rebels move on Donetsk airport Fighting intensifies in Ukraine as pro-Russian rebels move on Donetsk airport
(about 3 hours later)
MOSCOW — Fighting intensified in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday despite a fragile cease-fire, as pro-Russian rebels appeared to be close to capturing the strategically important Donetsk airport.MOSCOW — Fighting intensified in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday despite a fragile cease-fire, as pro-Russian rebels appeared to be close to capturing the strategically important Donetsk airport.
The fighting was some of the worst since a Sept. 5 cease-fire calmed the conflict, although shelling and casualties have continued throughout the nearly four weeks since the agreement was reached. Ukraine’s military and rebel forces said the fighting worsened Wednesday, as rebels vowed to seize the airport, a key facility that has remained in government hands for almost all of the six-month-long conflict. The fighting was some of the worst since a Sept. 5 truce calmed the conflict, although shelling has continued and casualties have mounted throughout the nearly four weeks since the agreement was reached. Ukraine’s military and separatist forces said the fighting worsened Wednesday, as rebels vowed to seize the airport, a key facility that has remained in government hands for almost all of the six-month-long conflict.
If rebels succeed in taking the airport, they would gain an important means to bring in supplies to their war-torn territory as they seek to build a new state in Ukraine’s southeast. The cease-fire hands over effective control of the territory to the rebels without granting them independence. For the government in Kiev, losing the airport would be a major symbolic defeat after its forces sustained heavy losses in a battle in late May to keep it under their control. If rebels succeed in taking the airport, they would gain an important means to bring in supplies to their war-torn territory as they seek to build a new state in Ukraine’s southeast. The cease-fire hands over effective control of the territory to the rebels without granting them independence. For the government in Kiev, losing the airport would be a major symbolic defeat after its forces suffered heavy losses in a battle in late May to keep it under their control.
Donetsk city government officials said Wednesday that residents are contending with an “extremely difficult situation” and that the part of the city closest to the airport came under “massive bombardment.” At least six civilians were killed when a shell hit a minibus, and another shell hit the grounds of a school that was in session, shattering windows and injuring six adults, the city authorities said. A reporter for the Associated Press who visited the school said he saw three bodies there.Donetsk city government officials said Wednesday that residents are contending with an “extremely difficult situation” and that the part of the city closest to the airport came under “massive bombardment.” At least six civilians were killed when a shell hit a minibus, and another shell hit the grounds of a school that was in session, shattering windows and injuring six adults, the city authorities said. A reporter for the Associated Press who visited the school said he saw three bodies there.
The Ukrainian military denied firing at the school or the bus. It said its forces came under fire at the airport Wednesday from tanks and Grad multiple-rocket launchers. Wednesday was the first day back at school for students in rebel-held territories.The Ukrainian military denied firing at the school or the bus. It said its forces came under fire at the airport Wednesday from tanks and Grad multiple-rocket launchers. Wednesday was the first day back at school for students in rebel-held territories.
Despite the continued fighting and mounting deaths of civilians and soldiers, both sides have been reluctant to declare the cease-fire over, and there were no immediate signs Wednesday that either side planned to abandon the political terms of the peace deal reached last month in Minsk, Belarus. The terms include prisoner exchanges and more autonomy for the territories under rebel control. Despite the continued fighting and rising casualty toll, both sides have been reluctant to declare the cease-fire over, and there were no signs Wednesday that either side planned to abandon the political terms of the peace deal reached last month in Minsk, Belarus. The terms include prisoner exchanges and more autonomy for the territories under rebel control.
But major provisions of the deal remain unfulfilled, including a requirement that foreign fighters leave the battlefield, a top U.S. diplomat said Wednesday.But major provisions of the deal remain unfulfilled, including a requirement that foreign fighters leave the battlefield, a top U.S. diplomat said Wednesday.
“Russian forces/mil[itary] equipment still in Ukraine, border remains unsecured,” U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt said on Twitter. “Now time for Russia and separatists they back to implement Minsk.”“Russian forces/mil[itary] equipment still in Ukraine, border remains unsecured,” U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt said on Twitter. “Now time for Russia and separatists they back to implement Minsk.”
The Kremlin has denied sending its troops to Ukrainian territory, although state-run media have said that some Russian soldiers have fought for the rebels while on vacation.The Kremlin has denied sending its troops to Ukrainian territory, although state-run media have said that some Russian soldiers have fought for the rebels while on vacation.
Kiev’s forces suffered major setbacks in late August after tanks and other heavy equipment streamed over the border from Russia to back up the rebels, and there is little appetite in the Ukrainian capital for a full-fledged return to hostilities.Kiev’s forces suffered major setbacks in late August after tanks and other heavy equipment streamed over the border from Russia to back up the rebels, and there is little appetite in the Ukrainian capital for a full-fledged return to hostilities.
But open battlefield losses in the middle of the cease-fire also increase domestic pressure on President Petro Poroshenko to take a harder stance against the rebels, who, with Russia’s backing, have seized important stretches of Ukraine’s industrial heartland. National parliamentary elections are scheduled for Oct. 26, and hard-line nationalist parties are doing well in the polls.But open battlefield losses in the middle of the cease-fire also increase domestic pressure on President Petro Poroshenko to take a harder stance against the rebels, who, with Russia’s backing, have seized important stretches of Ukraine’s industrial heartland. National parliamentary elections are scheduled for Oct. 26, and hard-line nationalist parties are doing well in the polls.
Col. Andriy Lysenko, a military spokesman, told a briefing in Kiev that the Ukrainian military still controlled the airport and that soldiers there were “brilliantly carrying out their duty,” the Associated Press reported. Col. Andriy Lysenko, a military spokesman, said at a briefing in Kiev that the Ukrainian military still controlled the airport and that soldiers there were “brilliantly carrying out their duty,” the Associated Press reported.
But a top rebel leader said rebel forces were in control of 90 percent of the airport and that they would soon take it all.But a top rebel leader said rebel forces were in control of 90 percent of the airport and that they would soon take it all.
“In two or three days, we will take control of the Donetsk airport,” rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko told reporters in Donetsk, the Interfax news agency reported.“In two or three days, we will take control of the Donetsk airport,” rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko told reporters in Donetsk, the Interfax news agency reported.
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for an international investigation of deaths in eastern Ukraine during the conflict.In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for an international investigation of deaths in eastern Ukraine during the conflict.
“This is a horrible tragedy, and this is obviously a war crime,” he said, alleging that 400 bodies have been discovered in mass graves near Donetsk.“This is a horrible tragedy, and this is obviously a war crime,” he said, alleging that 400 bodies have been discovered in mass graves near Donetsk.
“We expect that the Western capitals will not hush up these facts,” he said.“We expect that the Western capitals will not hush up these facts,” he said.