Gunshots heard in east Ukraine as Kyiv steps up offensive

GUNSHOTS rang out in the night of Wednesday to Thursday in Donetsk, the main city of eastern Ukraine, as fighting with pro-Russian rebels continued, local officials said.

Insurgents fighting for an independent “People’s Republic” remained in control of the area, but the Ukrainian government announced a renewed effort to beef up its security presence, including the deployment of T-64 tanks.

“The night passed relatively quietly. According to residents in the village of Chirokii, gunshots could be heard,” the Donetsk city government said in a statement.

Donetsk, home to about one million people, has been reduced to a state of near-anarchy following heavy fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels around the city’s international airport.

The fighting has left about 40 dead, mainly separatists, according to reports, and the airport will remain closed at least until the end of the month, as the security of flights cannot be guaranteed.

The streets of Donetsk are nearly deserted and under the control of insurgents, who man numerous checkpoints in the area.

Ukrainian forces, who launched an “anti-terrorist operation” nearly two months ago, intensified their activities on Tuesday, concentrating their efforts on the rebel stronghold of Slavyansk, more than 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Donetsk.

Two Ukrainian soldiers have lost their lives in this week’s fighting, while numerous insurgents have been killed, according to Kyiv.

The fighting has also damaged the water supply to five cities in the combat zone, including Slavyansk.

On Wednesday night, Ukrainian forces said they had destroyed a rebel ammunition depot in the area.

The interior ministry said on Thursday it would send a third National Guard battalion to the east.

The National Guardsmen, volunteers supporting the regular army, are expected to arrive within the next 10 days.

In a separate report, the Ukrainian defence ministry said T-64 tanks had been deployed near Slavyansk to guard the positions of forces engaged in military operations there.

“Terrorists have been damaging the tanks in every possible way,” the ministry said.

“They are repaired on the spot, and put right back into action.”