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Ukraine crisis: Rebels 'begin offensive' on Mariupol Ukraine crisis: Rebels 'begin offensive' on Mariupol
(about 2 hours later)
Eastern Ukraine's main rebel leader says he has launched an offensive against the government-held port city of Mariupol. Eastern Ukraine's main rebel leader says he has launched an offensive against the port city of Mariupol.
His comments came after a series of rocket attacks which Ukrainian media said had left 27 people dead and many others injured in the city. Alexander Zakharchenko also claimed responsibility for a series of rocket attacks which are said to have left 30 people dead and many more injured in the government-held city.
Grad rockets hit a market in a residential eastern area of Mariupol, the city's police chief said. However another rebel leader, Denis Pushilin, denied this, saying Ukrainian forces were to blame.
Since April, more than 5,000 people have died in fighting in the east. International organisations, including the EU, have condemned the attack.
The rebels have seized a large swathe of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. More than a million people have been displaced. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) called the incident "reckless, indiscriminate and disgraceful" and demanded a full investigation into the assault.
Rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko said on Friday that he did not want truce talks with Kiev. The EU has previously said that an escalation in fighting will lead to worsening relations with Russia.
A ceasefire was agreed in Minsk in September but never fully took hold. Many hoped that the lower level of hostilities it introduced would last, but the BBC's David Stern says that the fighting is beginning to approach what was seen last summer. No truce talks
Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has called for a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss what he says is Russia's role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
"Russia is not only breaching the Minsk agreements - Russia is violating the fundamental principles of international law and humanity," Mr Yatseniuk told a meeting in Kiev.
"They are stopping at nothing. The rockets even hit a children's shop," he added.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has announced he is returning early from a trip to Saudi Arabia to plan a response to the attack.
The incident comes a day after Mr Zakharchenko said he did not want truce talks with Kiev.
On Saturday he claimed the Mariupol offensive would be "the best possible monument to all our dead".
The rebel leader made his comments at a memorial ceremony for those killed in an artillery attack on a bus stop in the rebel-held city of Donetsk on Friday.
Strategic city
Mariupol has a population of 500,000 and is in a highly strategic position, sitting between rebel-held eastern areas and Crimea, which was annexed by Russia last March. The city saw heavy fighting in August.Mariupol has a population of 500,000 and is in a highly strategic position, sitting between rebel-held eastern areas and Crimea, which was annexed by Russia last March. The city saw heavy fighting in August.
'Very scared' Unverified video footage on Saturday indicated that a number of cars, houses and apartment buildings had been struck and were in flames.
"Today an offensive was launched on Mariupol. This will be the best possible monument to all our dead," Alexander Zakharchenko was quoted as saying at a memorial ceremony in Donetsk. The BBC's David Stern says the attack appeared to come from a multiple-rocket launcher, which fires a large number of missiles over a spread-out area.
A rebel spokesman earlier denied any involvement in the attack on Mariupol.
Unverified video footage on Saturday indicated that a number cars, houses and apartment buildings had been struck and were in flames.
Our correspondent says the attack appeared to come from a multiple-rocket launcher, which fires a large number of missiles over a spread-out area.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has called for an urgent session of the UN Security Council to discuss what he says is Russia's role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, 5 Canal TV reports.
"Russia is not only breaching the Minsk agreements - Russia is violating the fundamental principles of international law and humanity.
"They are stopping at nothing. The rockets even hit a children's shop," it quoted him as telling a meeting in Kiev called to discuss the escalation in Mariupol.
The head of the OSCE security and monitoring group's mission to Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan, described the shelling as a reckless, indiscriminate and disgraceful attack aimed at a heavily populated residential area.
"I condemn this violent act in the strongest terms and call for a full investigation of the incident.
"This dangerous situation can't continue. We need an immediate ceasefire."
Mayor killedMayor killed
On Friday, rebel military spokesman Eduard Basurin said 24 rebels had been killed and 30 wounded in recent fighting. He called it "the heaviest losses in our ranks" in a 24-hour period. Also on Friday, rebel military spokesman Eduard Basurin said 24 rebels had been killed and 30 wounded in recent fighting. He called it "the heaviest losses in our ranks" in a 24-hour period.
In another development, the rebel mayor of Pervomaysk, west of Luhansk, has been killed, reports say.In another development, the rebel mayor of Pervomaysk, west of Luhansk, has been killed, reports say.
The body of Yevhen Ischchenko was found in a car. Three other men were apparently killed along with him. The local rebel leadership blamed Ukrainian agents, but other sources said it was the result of infighting.The body of Yevhen Ischchenko was found in a car. Three other men were apparently killed along with him. The local rebel leadership blamed Ukrainian agents, but other sources said it was the result of infighting.
Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany have all issued calls for an end to the fighting. Since April, more than 5,000 people have died in fighting in the east.
Ukraine and its Western allies say Russian regular troops are fighting alongside the separatists, using Russian heavy artillery and tanks. Moscow insists that only Russian "volunteers" have joined the rebels. The rebels currently control a large swathe of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. More than a million people have been displaced.
A ceasefire was agreed in Minsk in September but never fully took hold. Many hoped that the lower level of hostilities it introduced would last, but our correspondent says that the fighting is beginning to approach what was seen last summer.
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
Are you in Mariupol? Have you been affected by recent events? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist.Are you in Mariupol? Have you been affected by recent events? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist.
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