Ukrainian forces succeeded in raising the national flag over City Hall in accordance with orders from President Petro Poroshenko.
Poroshenko said in an earlier statement that he had commanded the troops to “raise the government’s flag” over the city, which has been under rebel control since early April when they seized its administrative and police buildings.
Andrei Purgin of the separatist Donetsk People’s Republic told The Associated Press that rebels were evacuating, but claimed the army’s campaign had left the city “in ruins”.
- Earlier Saturday, Ukraine’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said he had received intelligence reports suggesting that the rebels’ top commander, Igor Strelkov, “and a substantial part of the rebels had fled Slaviansk".
A rebel commander who would only give his nom de guerre as Pinochet said the rebels had relocated to the nearby town of Kramatorsk, 20 kilometres south of Slaviansk.
Slaviansk is the symbolic heart of an uprising sparked by the February ouster of a pro-Kremlin administration in Kiev and which was fuelled by Russia's subsequent seizure of Crimea.
Relentless shelling and sniper fire have since killed more than 470 people and left Western leaders frustrated by repeated mediation failures.
Poroshenko said Friday he was ready to conduct another round of talks between representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the rebels.
(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP)
[france24.com]
5/7/14
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Ukraine to down Russian helicopters if they violate Ukrainian border (Allegedly russian combat helicopters violated the country’s borders on several occasions)
Ukraine troops regain town in Donetsk. Luhansk People's Republic reports casualties in shelling by Ukrainian army
Readout of the Vice President's Call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (The White House)
Porochenko prêt à rétablir le cessez-le-feu (lors d’une conversation téléphonique avec Joseph Biden)
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Ukraine's president has hailed the recapture of the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk as the start of a turning point in the three-month conflict......
ReplyDeletePetro Poroshenko said it was not a total victory, but rather an event of "huge symbolic importance".
Government forces have made territorial gains since launching an offensive this week in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, following the breakdown of a ceasefire.
Pro-Russian rebels still hold the two regional capitals and other key areas.
But Sloviansk had been considered a focal point of the rebellion, and was the military centre of the self-declared People's Republic of Donetsk................http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28180907
Poroschenko: Noch kein vollständiger Sieg gegen Separatisten...
ReplyDeleteNach dem Rückzug aus Slawjansk und Kramatorsk müssen die Separatisten weitere Stellungen aufgeben, offenbar sammeln sie sich in Donezk. Russlands Außenminister Lawrow mahnt Gespräche über eine Waffenruhe an. Der ukrainische Präsident Poroschenko aber will die Offensive verstärken..........................................http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/poroschenko-ordnet-verstaerkung-der-militaeroffensive-an-13030516.html
6/7/14
Lugansk militia seize Grad multiple rocket launcher system...
ReplyDeletePeople’s militia in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk have managed to seize one of the three Grad multiple rocket launcher systems used to pound the city on Monday, eyewitnesses say, noting that these are early reports.
The launcher “only slightly damaged”, was moved to a city neighbourhood and “militiamen are painting over Ukrainian military marking,” an Itar-Tass source has said. There have been no comments from the people’s militia headquarters as of yet.
Earlier reports said heavy artillery fire once again rocked Lugansk on Monday afternoon, killing several people.
Since mid-April, Kiev has been conducting a punitive operation against federalization supporters. The operation in Ukraine's embattled southeastern regions involves armored vehicles, heavy artillery and attack aviation. After a brief ceasefire announced by Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko on June 20 and terminated by him on June 30, military attacks of the pro-Kiev forces on the country’s southeastern regions resumed.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/739449
7/7/14