Heavy black smoke billowed after fighter jets were seen flying over and explosions were heard, Xinhua correspondents said.
The Ukrainian government said a military operation had begun at Donetsk's international airport.
"A full-scale anti-terrorist operation is under way at the airport," a source told local news website OstroV.
Armed activists in the eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions established the "people's republic" in early April and an overwhelming majority of voters favored their regions' independence at referendums on May 11.
Kiev has rejected the referendums as illegal and launched "anti-terrorist operation" in the regions.
Petro Poroshenko, the likely winning presidential candidate, told a news conference in Kiev that he would not negotiate with terrorists in eastern Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, eyewitnesses said they heard explosions near the airport after armed men arrived there.
Donetsk airport's press service said the airport had been closed after militants of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic arrived, demanding the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces guarding the airport.
[globaltimes.cn]
26/5/14
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Kiev to use “legal levers” in a bid to get Crimea back (Poroshenko)
Russia says ready for dialog with Ukraine's Poroshenko
Ukraine voters seek leader to save nation
- Ukraine has launched air raids and a ground assault against rebels who seized Donetsk's international airport, as the country's new president promised to reassert control in the east and refused to negotiate with "terrorists".
The operation came a day after Ukrainians voted in Petro Poroshenko as its new president, and hours after pro-Russian rebels stormed the airport, demanding Ukraine troops leave.
The airport serves a city of one million people, which the rebels have proclaimed capital of an independent "people's republic", and where they succeeded in blocking all voting in Sunday's election.
The attempt to seize the airport may have been intended to prevent Poroshenko from travelling there: he has said his first trip in office would be to visit the restive east.
'Bandit state'
Poroshenko promised to talk with those in the east who have grievances, but not to those who have taken up weapons.
"They want to preserve a bandit state which is held in place by force of arms," he said. "These are simply bandits. Nobody in any civilised state will hold negotiations with terrorists."
Preliminary results with about half of votes counted gave Poroshenko 53.7 percent of the vote - towering over a field of 21 candidates with enough support to avert a run-off.
His closest challenger, former premier Yulia Tymoshenko, secured just 13.1 percent and made clear she would concede.
Poroshenko made clear his most urgent task is finding a modus vivendi with the giant neighbour that has seemed poised to carve Ukraine up since a popular revolt toppled a pro-Russian president in February.
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who last month described eastern Ukraine as "New Russia", has made more accommodating statements in recent days.
He promised at the weekend that Moscow would respect the will of Ukrainians, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeated that promise on Monday in saying Russia was ready for dialogue with Poroshenko.
[aljazeera.com]
26/5/14
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Ukraine troops launched an operation Monday against pro-Russian separatists who had seized the airport in Donetsk Sunday night after the country's presidential elections...
ReplyDeleteUkraine launched an operation on Monday against the pro-Russian separatists who seized the airport in Donetsk Sunday night.
Shots were heard and dense smoke was seen rising from the airport as the Ukrainian army used air force jets and attack helicopters.
Residences in the surrounding area were also evacuated as clashes continued.
It appears though that the Ukrainian forces have taken back control of the airport.
Armed pro-Russians seized control of the airport in Donetsk demanding the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops there, stated the airport’s press office earlier Monday.
The attack comes a day after Ukraine’s presidential elections, which has seen Petro Poroshenko claim victory.
www.aa.com.tr/en
26/5/14
The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic’s militia units have temporarily recaptured the Sergei Prokofiev International Airport, which was controlled by Ukrainian army and security forces. “However, fighting has resumed near the airport just now,” the press service of the Donetsk People’s Republic told ITAR-TASS....
ReplyDeleteThe press service did not confirm that fighting was under way near the city railway station.
Many shops and public places, including the city’s biggest Shakhtar Plaza center, were shut down. The city streets are deserted. In connection with the ongoing security operation, many people left work ahead of time.
Explosions were heard at the airport on Monday morning, and a cloud of smoke could be seen rising over the runway. Three army helicopters flew in the airport’s direction and intensive shooting, including from large-caliber guns, could be heard at the airport.
It is believed that assault aviation could have delivered missile strikes at the airport.
Earlier on Monday, three Ukrainian army helicopters fired at the Tochmash engineering plant in Donetsk. One person was hurt in the shooting attack.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/733396
26/5/14