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Ukraine rebels renew Donetsk airport offensive | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Rebel forces in eastern Ukraine are conducting an offensive to capture the government-held airport in Donetsk, officials say. | Rebel forces in eastern Ukraine are conducting an offensive to capture the government-held airport in Donetsk, officials say. |
Pro-Russian rebels have tried several times in recent weeks to take the airport, which lies to the north-west of the city, despite an official truce. | |
The Ukrainian military said the rebels were moving on "a broad front". | |
However a spokesman denied claims they had taken a large part of the airport and insisted it was not surrounded. | |
The ceasefire was called on 5 September, but on Wednesday four people were killed by a shell which landed on a school in Donetsk, and six died when a minibus was hit. | The ceasefire was called on 5 September, but on Wednesday four people were killed by a shell which landed on a school in Donetsk, and six died when a minibus was hit. |
A spokesman for what the Ukrainian government calls its anti-terrorist operation said Ukrainian forces repelled four attacks on the airport on Wednesday evening. | A spokesman for what the Ukrainian government calls its anti-terrorist operation said Ukrainian forces repelled four attacks on the airport on Wednesday evening. |
A T-64 tank was destroyed and seven rebels were killed, Vladyslav Seleznyov told Kanal 5 TV. | A T-64 tank was destroyed and seven rebels were killed, Vladyslav Seleznyov told Kanal 5 TV. |
The rebels used tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems, artillery and mortars, he said, resuming their attacks on Thursday morning with small-arms fire. | The rebels used tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems, artillery and mortars, he said, resuming their attacks on Thursday morning with small-arms fire. |
The airport is strategically important, lying just outside Donetsk, the largest city held by the rebels. Its capture by the separatists would help them to resupply. | The airport is strategically important, lying just outside Donetsk, the largest city held by the rebels. Its capture by the separatists would help them to resupply. |
Government forces have been using it to shell separatist positions inside the city. | Government forces have been using it to shell separatist positions inside the city. |
A reporter for Associated Press in Donetsk said on Wednesday there were indications the government may already have lost control of the airport. | A reporter for Associated Press in Donetsk said on Wednesday there were indications the government may already have lost control of the airport. |
Rebel-leader Alexander Zakharchenko, speaking on Thursday, said it was now "95%" under separatist control. | Rebel-leader Alexander Zakharchenko, speaking on Thursday, said it was now "95%" under separatist control. |
But military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters that the airport was still in Ukrainian government hands and reinforcements were getting through. | |
"They have manpower, they have munitions and food supplies. They have everything to sustain defence," he said. "Reinforcements are coming regularly because the airport has not been surrounded." | |
Economy shrinks | Economy shrinks |
More than 3,500 people have been killed in Ukraine in the conflict between pro-Russia separatists and the Kiev government since it began in April. | More than 3,500 people have been killed in Ukraine in the conflict between pro-Russia separatists and the Kiev government since it began in April. |
In a further sign of the economic cost, the World Bank said on Thursday that Ukraine's economy was now likely to contract by 8% this year. | In a further sign of the economic cost, the World Bank said on Thursday that Ukraine's economy was now likely to contract by 8% this year. |
World Bank representative in Ukraine, Qimiao Fan, blamed reduced economic activity in the east. The bank had previously forecast a decline of 5%. | World Bank representative in Ukraine, Qimiao Fan, blamed reduced economic activity in the east. The bank had previously forecast a decline of 5%. |
The fighting arose from deep divisions in Ukraine over whether the country should take a more pro-Western or pro-Moscow direction. | The fighting arose from deep divisions in Ukraine over whether the country should take a more pro-Western or pro-Moscow direction. |
Russia seized the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March and separatists later declared independence in the two eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. | Russia seized the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March and separatists later declared independence in the two eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. |
Russia denies Western accusations that it is sending heavy weaponry to the rebels or Russian soldiers to back them. But the Kremlin concedes that "volunteers" have travelled to eastern Ukraine. | Russia denies Western accusations that it is sending heavy weaponry to the rebels or Russian soldiers to back them. But the Kremlin concedes that "volunteers" have travelled to eastern Ukraine. |
Newly appointed Nato Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, called on Wednesday for Russia to change its behaviour and return "to compliance with international law and its obligations." | Newly appointed Nato Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, called on Wednesday for Russia to change its behaviour and return "to compliance with international law and its obligations." |
Meanwhile, a senior official in the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic, Boris Litvinov, says a parliamentary commission has been established to investigate what he termed "Kiev's war crimes". | Meanwhile, a senior official in the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic, Boris Litvinov, says a parliamentary commission has been established to investigate what he termed "Kiev's war crimes". |
The commission was currently gathering information on "mass burials", he said, and would also look into allegations of "torture". | The commission was currently gathering information on "mass burials", he said, and would also look into allegations of "torture". |
Human rights groups have highlighted allegations of abuses committed by both sides in the conflict. | Human rights groups have highlighted allegations of abuses committed by both sides in the conflict. |