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Ukraine conflict: Battles rage ahead of Minsk talks | Ukraine conflict: Battles rage ahead of Minsk talks |
(35 minutes later) | |
Fighting has surged in eastern Ukraine as government forces and pro-Russian rebels try to make gains ahead of possible peace talks on Wednesday. | Fighting has surged in eastern Ukraine as government forces and pro-Russian rebels try to make gains ahead of possible peace talks on Wednesday. |
Separatist forces have carried out rocket attacks on a key military headquarters and a residential area in Kramatorsk, officials say. | Separatist forces have carried out rocket attacks on a key military headquarters and a residential area in Kramatorsk, officials say. |
Meanwhile, Ukraine's volunteer Azov battalion has launched an offensive against separatists around Mariupol. | Meanwhile, Ukraine's volunteer Azov battalion has launched an offensive against separatists around Mariupol. |
More than 5,400 people have died since the conflict began last April. | More than 5,400 people have died since the conflict began last April. |
The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany hope to meet in the Belarusian capital Minsk on Wednesday to hammer out a peace deal after months of fighting. | The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany hope to meet in the Belarusian capital Minsk on Wednesday to hammer out a peace deal after months of fighting. |
Russia denies Western and Ukrainian accusations of sending troops and supplying the rebels and has warned the West that sending arms to Ukraine would worsen the crisis. | Russia denies Western and Ukrainian accusations of sending troops and supplying the rebels and has warned the West that sending arms to Ukraine would worsen the crisis. |
US President Barack Obama said on Monday that he had not ruled out supplying "lethal defensive weapons" to Ukraine if diplomacy failed. | US President Barack Obama said on Monday that he had not ruled out supplying "lethal defensive weapons" to Ukraine if diplomacy failed. |
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told parliament on Tuesday that the government's military headquarters at Kramatorsk airfield had been shelled by rebels. | Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told parliament on Tuesday that the government's military headquarters at Kramatorsk airfield had been shelled by rebels. |
At least five people were killed and 16 wounded when a residential area was also hit, the government-controlled Donetsk regional administration said. Ten people were injured at the military base, it added. | At least five people were killed and 16 wounded when a residential area was also hit, the government-controlled Donetsk regional administration said. Ten people were injured at the military base, it added. |
Kramatorsk, some distance west of the current conflict zone, was the scene of major fighting until July, when pro-Russian separatists retreated. | Kramatorsk, some distance west of the current conflict zone, was the scene of major fighting until July, when pro-Russian separatists retreated. |
Local authorities said the rockets were fired from the rebel-controlled Horlivka area, which is about 50km (30 miles) away from the city. | Local authorities said the rockets were fired from the rebel-controlled Horlivka area, which is about 50km (30 miles) away from the city. |
The separatists denied firing the rockets. | The separatists denied firing the rockets. |
Julia Dzuba, a resident of Kramatorsk who caught the shelling on film as it neared the apartment she lives in with her young child, told the BBC: "I was online, reading news, and then I heard boom, boom!" | |
"This is much worse than last summer," she said. "[T]hey are shooting at each other, and we are the ones who suffer." | |
Meanwhile, Andriy Biletsky, commander of the Azov battalion - an ultra-nationalist volunteer force based in Mariupol affiliated with Ukraine's interior ministry - confirmed to the BBC that its fighters were advancing and fighting pro-Russian rebels outside the southern port city. | Meanwhile, Andriy Biletsky, commander of the Azov battalion - an ultra-nationalist volunteer force based in Mariupol affiliated with Ukraine's interior ministry - confirmed to the BBC that its fighters were advancing and fighting pro-Russian rebels outside the southern port city. |
"We have taken the villages of Shyrokine, Pavlovo, Kominternovo. We are currently moving towards Novoazovsk." | "We have taken the villages of Shyrokine, Pavlovo, Kominternovo. We are currently moving towards Novoazovsk." |
Rebels launched an offensive on Mariupol last month, leaving dozens dead in rocket attacks. | Rebels launched an offensive on Mariupol last month, leaving dozens dead in rocket attacks. |
The Ukrainian government said that separatists appeared to be massing forces for attacks on strategic towns, including Mariupol, on Saturday, according to Reuters news agency. | The Ukrainian government said that separatists appeared to be massing forces for attacks on strategic towns, including Mariupol, on Saturday, according to Reuters news agency. |
The port city lies in a key coastal position between rebel-controlled areas and the Crimean peninsula. | The port city lies in a key coastal position between rebel-controlled areas and the Crimean peninsula. |
Russia's Ria news agency reported on Tuesday that more than 600 Russian troops had started exercises in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia last year. | Russia's Ria news agency reported on Tuesday that more than 600 Russian troops had started exercises in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia last year. |
The surge in fighting comes a day after separatists said they had cut off a key supply road to Debaltseve, a railway hub near the rebel-held city of Donetsk. The military says the battle is ongoing. | The surge in fighting comes a day after separatists said they had cut off a key supply road to Debaltseve, a railway hub near the rebel-held city of Donetsk. The military says the battle is ongoing. |
At least seven Ukrainian troops were killed overnight in the east, Ukrainian military spokesman Anatoliy Matyukhin said. In Donetsk, two civilians were killed. | At least seven Ukrainian troops were killed overnight in the east, Ukrainian military spokesman Anatoliy Matyukhin said. In Donetsk, two civilians were killed. |
The Kremlin warned the West ahead of Wednesday's proposed peace talks against sending weapons to the Ukrainian government or putting pressure on Russia. | The Kremlin warned the West ahead of Wednesday's proposed peace talks against sending weapons to the Ukrainian government or putting pressure on Russia. |
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that any talk about imposing new sanctions on Russia or arming the Ukraine government would destabilise the situation in Ukraine. | Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that any talk about imposing new sanctions on Russia or arming the Ukraine government would destabilise the situation in Ukraine. |
On Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel met US President Barack Obama in Washington to update him on Franco-German efforts to revive last year's Minsk peace plan, which collapsed amid fighting over the winter. | On Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel met US President Barack Obama in Washington to update him on Franco-German efforts to revive last year's Minsk peace plan, which collapsed amid fighting over the winter. |
The detailed proposals have not been released but the plan is thought to include a demilitarised zone of 50-70km (30-45 miles) around the current front line. | The detailed proposals have not been released but the plan is thought to include a demilitarised zone of 50-70km (30-45 miles) around the current front line. |
Are you in eastern Ukraine? Have you been affected by events? Email your experiences to | Are you in eastern Ukraine? Have you been affected by events? Email your experiences to |
Please leave a contact number if you are happy to speak to a BBC journalist. | Please leave a contact number if you are happy to speak to a BBC journalist. |
Have your say | Have your say |