Kyiv claims victory in new battle for control of Donetsk airport
- 9 years ago
It is being described as the worst battle in eastern Ukraine in months.
The government in Kyiv says its troops have retaken control of areas lost to rebels in recent weeks around Donetsk airport.
Officials say four soldiers have died and 32 were injured. No casualty figures have been given by the rebel side.
Ukraine’s Army spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters: “We’ve succeeded in clearing almost all of the airport area.
“This belongs to the territory assigned to the competence of the Ukrainian army by the Minsk ceasefire agreement.
“This is not a breach of the Minsk protocol,” he added.
The battle is over an airport that is now decimated.
Showing a video to reporters, the army says the Russian-backed rebels have fired rockets from residential areas in Donetsk city.
The army spokesman has told euronews it has no intention of entering Donetsk city; it says it just wanted to reestablish the agreed separation line between government and rebel-held territory.
The government in Kyiv says its troops have retaken control of areas lost to rebels in recent weeks around Donetsk airport.
Officials say four soldiers have died and 32 were injured. No casualty figures have been given by the rebel side.
Ukraine’s Army spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters: “We’ve succeeded in clearing almost all of the airport area.
“This belongs to the territory assigned to the competence of the Ukrainian army by the Minsk ceasefire agreement.
“This is not a breach of the Minsk protocol,” he added.
The battle is over an airport that is now decimated.
Showing a video to reporters, the army says the Russian-backed rebels have fired rockets from residential areas in Donetsk city.
The army spokesman has told euronews it has no intention of entering Donetsk city; it says it just wanted to reestablish the agreed separation line between government and rebel-held territory.