Ukraine crisis: Rebels 'retreating' in Sloviansk Skip to main content

Ukraine crisis: Rebels 'retreating' in Sloviansk


Sarah Rainsford reports from eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian supporters are rebuilding barricades

Ukraine crisis

Pro-Russian militants just outside Sloviansk are retreating amid attacks by Ukrainian troops, reports say.
Government forces have taken a TV tower in the suburbs and rebels were pulling back deeper into the city, the Russian Interfax news agency said.
Heavy gunfire could be heard, apparently closer to the centre than in recent days, a Reuters reporter said.
However, a number of Ukrainian troops have been killed in the fighting, the country's interior minister said.
Arsen Avakov could not give the exact death toll, but said up to eight Ukrainian troops had been wounded in an ambush.
Four ambulances were seen near the area and at least two separatist armoured vehicles and several rebels were seen in retreat, Reuters reported.
Separatist armoured vehicles Separatist armoured vehicles and a number of rebels were seen in retreat
A pro-Russian observes Ukrainian military positions from a train station under rebel control south of Sloviansk - 4 May 2014 Pro-Russian gunmen in Sloviansk are maintaining a watchful eye on Ukrainian troops on the outskirts
Local residents restore a checkpoint in Kramatorsk - 3 May 2014 Residents in the city have been building barricades in preparation for the Ukrainian soldiers' advance
Fears of an impending offensive by Ukrainian forces on the pro-Russian stronghold had been growing overnight, sources inside the city said earlier.
Ukraine's army cut off the main road into the city on Sunday.
The move came days after rebels shot down two Ukrainian helicopters on the outskirts of Sloviansk, one of a dozen or more east Ukrainian cities where pro-Russian separatists have seized official buildings.
Ukrainian troops are currently carrying out what the Kiev government calls "anti-terror" operations in the east to wrest back control of these areas.
Speaking two days after dozens were killed in violence in the Ukrainian port city of Odessa, Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of executing a plan "to destroy Ukraine and its statehood."
"Russia's aim was to repeat in Odessa what is happening in the east of the country," he said, insisting Kiev had not lost control of the region.
The clashes on Friday left more than 40 dead, mostly pro-Russian separatists killed in a building fire.
Russia warned on Monday that failure to halt the escalating unrest would threaten peace across Europe.
Moscow called on Ukraine and the international community to step up "joint efforts" to end "racism, xenophobia, ethnic intolerance, (and) the glorification of the Nazis" - a reference to extremists Russia claims are committing "mass" rights violations in Ukraine.
"The alternative is fraught with such destructive consequences for Europe's peace, stability and democratic development that it is absolutely necessary to prevent it," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Map showing eastern Ukraine
Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown by pro-Western protesters in February.
Russia then annexed the Crimean peninsula - part of Ukraine but with a Russian-speaking majority - in a move that provoked international outrage.
Separatist actions subsequently spread to eastern Ukraine, where Moscow is accused of backing pro-Russians who have seized official buildings in a dozen or more cities.
Despite the latest violence, the country plans to hold a presidential election on 25 May.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27280814
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera

The Life Story of A Distinguished And Outstanding Bhikkhu The Most Venerable Saradawpharagree Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera The Buddhist missionary Saradaw Ashin U Chandramani was endowed with great gifts and led a famous and long life. He was a very well known, distinguished and outstanding Bhikkhu Mahathera. While living in the Kushinagar Monastery, a place close to where the Lord Buddha had passed away to Nirvana, the Government of India had offered, and he had accepted, the highest, most honourable and respected title "Guru Guru MahaGuru". He became the first ever President of all Buddhists in India.A World Buddhist Conference took place in Kathmandu during the reign of King Mahindra of Nepal. The Conference was very well attended by over one hundred thousand Buddhists from various parts of the world and it was opened by King Mahindra himself. As requested by the King, Saradawpharagree blessed all the participants with the power of Triple Gems...
Post a Comment
Read more

Thai penis whitening trend raises eyebrows

Image copyright LELUXHOSPITAL Image caption Authorities warn the procedure could be quite painful A supposed trend of penis whitening has captivated Thailand in recent days and left it asking if the country's beauty industry is taking things too far. Skin whitening is nothing new in many Asian countries, where darker skin is often associated with outdoor labour, therefore, being poorer. But even so, when a clip of a clinic's latest intriguing procedure was posted online, it quickly went viral. Thailand's health ministry has since issued a warning over the procedure. The BBC Thai service spoke to one patient who had undergone the treatment, who told them: "I wanted to feel more confident in my swimming briefs". The 30-year-old said his first session of several was two months ago, and he had since seen a definite change in the shade. 'What for?' The original Facebook post from the clinic offering the treatment, which uses lasers to break do...
1 comment
Read more

Father of Kao Tao murders suspect requests chance to talk to his son

Migrant worker's father in Rakhine State says he wants to talk to his son. Suspect Win Zaw Htun, in red shirt, sits with suspect Zaw Lin, centre, during a police "re-enactment" of the murder of two British tourists on a beach on Koh Tao, Thailand October 3. Photo: AFP/Thai Police   The murder of two British tourists on a beach in Thailand has caught media attention from around the world. With the focus now on the two Myanmar migrant workers charged with murder, Mizzima talked by phone October 8 to U Tun Tun Hteik, the father of Win Zaw Htun, 21, one of the two suspects. The father lives in Kapi village, Kyaukphyu Township in Rakhine state. Britons Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were murdered on a beach on the Thai island of Kao Tao, 410 kilometres south of Bangkok on September 15. Controversy surrounds the efforts by the Thai authorities to solve the case, with the Thai govern...
Post a Comment
Read more