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Ukraine crisis: Army retreats at Donetsk airport Ukraine crisis: Army retreats at Donetsk airport
(about 1 hour later)
Ukraine's defence ministry says its troops have withdrawn from the main terminal of Donetsk airport, the scene of bitter fighting in recent weeks. Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the main terminal of Donetsk airport, scene of bitter fighting in recent weeks, the government confirmed.
It said the military retained control of parts of the airport, but that six soldiers had died and 16 were wounded. It said the military retained control of parts of the airport but six soldiers had died and 16 were wounded.
In central Donetsk, 13 people were killed when a civilian bus was hit by shelling. In the centre of the rebel-held city, shelling hit a bus, killing 13 people.
Fighting between the army and Russian-backed separatists has intensified in and around rebel-held Donetsk. Rebels paraded captured Ukrainian soldiers at the scene, as onlookers shouted abuse and beat or pelted them with debris from the blast site.
The rebels and the government traded blame for the attack, which comes nine days after a shell also killed 13 people on a bus in the village of Buhas outside Volnovakha, 35km (22 miles) south-west of Donetsk.
Fighting between the army and Russian-backed separatists has intensified in and around Donetsk as well as further east in Luhansk region.
The deaths come after Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany issued a joint call to end fighting in the east.The deaths come after Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany issued a joint call to end fighting in the east.
They also agreed on a line of demarcation between separatists and government forces from which both sides are meant to withdraw their forces, but so far this has not been carried out.They also agreed on a line of demarcation between separatists and government forces from which both sides are meant to withdraw their forces, but so far this has not been carried out.
The airport just outside Donetsk, which is no longer in use, has taken on symbolic value for both separatists and the government. 'Saboteurs'
The airport just outside Donetsk, which has been reduced to rubble, took on symbolic value for both separatists and the government over the winter.
Ukraine's defence ministry said 20 Ukrainian soldiers had withdrawn from the main terminal because their positions were destroyed and they were under direct shelling.Ukraine's defence ministry said 20 Ukrainian soldiers had withdrawn from the main terminal because their positions were destroyed and they were under direct shelling.
The loss of the main terminal is a major blow to pro-Kiev forces and will send political shockwaves back to the capital, the BBC's David Stern reports from Kiev.The loss of the main terminal is a major blow to pro-Kiev forces and will send political shockwaves back to the capital, the BBC's David Stern reports from Kiev.
The defence ministry blamed separatists for the shelling of the trolleybus, saying their own forces were 15km away. But the rebels blamed pro-government "saboteurs" in the city.
Captured Ukrainian soldiers were led to the blast site by rebels who appeared to do little to stop people hitting them.
"They have to be punished, like Saddam Hussein," pensioner and local resident Zina told AFP news agency. "They are killers. They killed our children. Our children cry every day."
But another pensioner, Lyuda, said she was "ashamed of what is happening". "I have pity for them," she said, weeping. They are victims of [Ukrainian President Petro] Poroshenko. They are not guilty, they were sent here."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blamed Ukrainian forces for what he called a "monstrous new crime" and a "coarse provocation".
More than 4,800 people have been killed and some 1.2 million displaced since pro-Russian rebels seized parts of Luhansk and Donetsk regions in April.
The insurrection began after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in March - weeks after Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych had been ousted.
Ukraine: the human costUkraine: the human cost
Source: UN report of 9 January for refugee figures; news reports for casualty estimatesSource: UN report of 9 January for refugee figures; news reports for casualty estimates
Donetsk airport: Ukraine's coveted prizeDonetsk airport: Ukraine's coveted prize
The defence ministry blamed separatists for the shelling of the bus, saying their own forces were 15km (9 miles) away.
But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukrainian forces were to blame for what he called a "monstrous new crime" and a "coarse provocation".
Separatist fighters dragged a captured Ukrainian soldier to the scene, where he was punched and kicked by residents. Later, about 20 captive soldiers were brought to the same spot, where locals hurled abuse and threw glass at them, Agence France-Presse reported.
Last week, 13 people were killed when a bus was struck by artillery fire in Buhas, south-west of Donetsk.
More than 4,800 people have been killed and some 1.2 million displaced since pro-Russian rebels seized parts of Luhansk and Donetsk regions in April.
The rebel movements followed Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in March - weeks after Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted.
There have been reports of fighting in recent days near the town of Slovyanoserbsk, north-west of Luhansk - an indication that violence is spreading beyond the Donetsk region.There have been reports of fighting in recent days near the town of Slovyanoserbsk, north-west of Luhansk - an indication that violence is spreading beyond the Donetsk region.
Ukraine says Russia has more than 9,000 soldiers fighting alongside the rebels, a claim that Moscow denies.Ukraine says Russia has more than 9,000 soldiers fighting alongside the rebels, a claim that Moscow denies.
Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday there had been a recent build up in the numbers of Russian tanks and other heavy military equipment in eastern Ukraine. Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday there had been a recent build-up in the numbers of Russian tanks and other heavy military equipment in eastern Ukraine.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich repeated Russian denials of intervention in Ukraine.Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich repeated Russian denials of intervention in Ukraine.
"We know that there are some Russians that fight on the side of those regions in Ukraine - some people that are coming on their own and fight," he told the BBC."We know that there are some Russians that fight on the side of those regions in Ukraine - some people that are coming on their own and fight," he told the BBC.
"We're trying to make sure that those people [in eastern Ukraine] are protected and to preserve their rights," he said. "We need a peaceful Ukraine.""We're trying to make sure that those people [in eastern Ukraine] are protected and to preserve their rights," he said. "We need a peaceful Ukraine."
Have you been affected by the recent events in Donetsk? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience.Have you been affected by the recent events in Donetsk? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience.
Please include a telephone number if you can be contacted by a BBC journalist.Please include a telephone number if you can be contacted by a BBC journalist.
Have your sayHave your say