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| Ukraine rebels renew Donetsk airport offensive | Ukraine rebels renew Donetsk airport offensive |
| (about 5 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. | 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". | 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. | However a spokesman denied claims they had taken a large part of the airport and insisted it was not surrounded. |
| Both sides have accused each other of violations since the ceasefire was called on 5 September. | |
| 'Not surrounded' | |
| Late on Thursday, a Swiss employee of the International Committee of the Red Cross was killed by shelling in the centre of Donetsk. | |
| A spokesman for the aid organisation told Reuters news agency that the shell had landed near its office. | |
| 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. | 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." | "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." |