Ukraine: Rebels conduct offensive to capture Donetsk airport

Ukraine’s rebel forces are conducting an offensive to capture the government-held airport in Donetsk

Ukraine’s rebel forces are conducting an offensive to capture the government-held airport in Donetsk, officials say.

Pro-Russian rebels have tried several times in recent weeks to take the airport, which lies to the north-west of the city.

The insurgents continued an offensive – begun on Wednesday, October 1 – on “a broad front”, the Ukrainian military says.

An official truce in place in eastern Ukraine has often been violated.

Ukraine’s rebel forces are conducting an offensive to capture the government-held airport in Donetsk (photo Reuters)

The cease-fire was called on September 5, but, on October 1, four people were killed by a shell which landed on a school in Donetsk, and six died when a minibus was hit.

A spokesman for what the Ukrainian government calls its anti-terrorist operation said Ukrainian forces repelled four attacks on the airport on Wednesday evening.

A T-64 tank was destroyed and seven rebels were killed, Vladyslav Seleznyov told Kanal 5 TV.

The rebels used tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems, artillery and mortars, Vladyslav Seleznyov said, resuming their attacks on Thursday morning with small-arms fire.

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Roy Siemens

Roy likes politics. Knowledge is power, Roy constantly says, so he spends nearly all day gathering information and writing articles about the latest events around the globe. He likes history and studying about war techniques, this is why he finds writing his articles a piece of cake. Another hobby of his is horse – riding.