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Ukraine crisis: Heavy bombardment in rebel-held Donetsk | Ukraine crisis: Heavy bombardment in rebel-held Donetsk |
(about 4 hours later) | |
There has been intense artillery bombardment overnight in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. | There has been intense artillery bombardment overnight in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. |
An eyewitness in the city said the shelling was the worst in more than a month, lasting almost eight hours. | |
It appeared to be coming from both rebel and government positions. | |
The fighting comes a day after monitors saw large numbers of unmarked military vehicles in rebel-held areas. Ukraine says it believes the rebels have received equipment from Russia. | The fighting comes a day after monitors saw large numbers of unmarked military vehicles in rebel-held areas. Ukraine says it believes the rebels have received equipment from Russia. |
Moscow denies this, although in the past it has said that Russian soldiers on leave were fighting among the rebels. | Moscow denies this, although in the past it has said that Russian soldiers on leave were fighting among the rebels. |
More than 4,000 people have died since fighting erupted in April after pro-Russian separatists seized control in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. | More than 4,000 people have died since fighting erupted in April after pro-Russian separatists seized control in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. |
A fragile ceasefire has been in place since 5 September, although hundreds of people have been killed since then. | A fragile ceasefire has been in place since 5 September, although hundreds of people have been killed since then. |
'Resurgence of violence' | 'Resurgence of violence' |
The shelling in Donetsk started four days ago, just after elections in rebel areas, but the latest round was extremely intense. | |
There is presently a lull in the fighting. No casualties have been reported so far. | There is presently a lull in the fighting. No casualties have been reported so far. |
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said its observers had seen a column of vehicles and heavy guns in rebel-held areas around Donetsk. | The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said its observers had seen a column of vehicles and heavy guns in rebel-held areas around Donetsk. |
"More than 40 trucks and tankers" were seen on a road east of Makiivka, the monitors said, adding that 19 were large vehicles towing howitzer artillery systems and "containing personnel with dark green uniforms without insignia". | "More than 40 trucks and tankers" were seen on a road east of Makiivka, the monitors said, adding that 19 were large vehicles towing howitzer artillery systems and "containing personnel with dark green uniforms without insignia". |
Nine tanks were also seen south-west of the centre of Donetsk. | Nine tanks were also seen south-west of the centre of Donetsk. |
Later OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter said he was "very concerned about a resurgence of violence in the eastern regions of Ukraine". | Later OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter said he was "very concerned about a resurgence of violence in the eastern regions of Ukraine". |
Fears of a return to full-scale conflict were raised after the separatists held elections on Sunday in defiance of Ukraine's government and Western countries. | Fears of a return to full-scale conflict were raised after the separatists held elections on Sunday in defiance of Ukraine's government and Western countries. |
Russia has recognised the vote which led to separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko, 38, being sworn in as head of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic. | Russia has recognised the vote which led to separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko, 38, being sworn in as head of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic. |
Igor Plotnitsky, a 50-year-old ex-Soviet army officer, was declared head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, further to the east. | Igor Plotnitsky, a 50-year-old ex-Soviet army officer, was declared head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, further to the east. |
President Petro Poroshenko has accused the rebels of tearing up the peace deal and said that a law granting the rebel-held regions partial autonomy would be scrapped. He has ordered reinforcements to key cities in case of a rebel offensive. | President Petro Poroshenko has accused the rebels of tearing up the peace deal and said that a law granting the rebel-held regions partial autonomy would be scrapped. He has ordered reinforcements to key cities in case of a rebel offensive. |
But the separatists hit back on Wednesday, arguing that it was the scrapping of the special status deal that broke the peace agreement. | But the separatists hit back on Wednesday, arguing that it was the scrapping of the special status deal that broke the peace agreement. |