Defiant Ukraine turns on military display
Fighting is contining in the east of the country. Early on Sunday, artillery
shells rained down on central Donetsk, a remaining stronghold of pro-Russian
rebels, hitting the territory of one of the city’s biggest hospitals. The
separatists accused Kyiv of deliberately targeting civilians, something
Ukrainian leaders deny.
Rebels laid out destroyed Ukrainian military hardware in the city’s central
square in preparation for their own celebrations meant to counter Kyiv’s
festivities.
Ukraine declared its independence from a collapsing Soviet Union on Aug 25,
1991, but many Ukrainians believe Moscow has never truly let it function as
a sovereign state, and is now trying to restore its control.
Russia denies helping the rebellion, or trying to intervene in Ukraine’s
internal affairs.
The UN says more than 2,000 people have been killed since the conflict erupted
in April in Ukraine’s mainly Russian-speaking east following Russia’s
annexation of Crimea. The death toll accelerated in the past few weeks, as
Ukrainian forces went on the offensive.