Heavy Shelling in Eastern Ukraine after Elections
Heavy gunfire erupted on the outskirts of Donetsk Monday, a day after Ukraine held parliamentary election results gave strong backing to pro-European President Petro Poroshenko and his allies, despite low voter turn-out.
According to international media, several rockets landed in a neighborhood near the Donetsk airport, with reports also indicating that a government-held base was also hit by shelling.
“Powerful firing has been heard from high-caliber guns and explosions,” posted the mayor of Donetsk, Oleksandr Lukyanchenko on his website.
No casualties or damage from the shelling has been reported as of yet.
Tensions remain high in the volatile region, despite the September peace agreement between Kyiv and eastern rebels who have declared their independence in the region.
The violence in the troubled country, including Ukrainian army shelling of areas controlled by the rebels, have killed thousands and led to the displacements of hundreds of thousands, according to United Nations figures.
Rebel leaders from Donetsk and Luhansk announced that they will hold their own elections on November 2, which Western officials have said they will not recognize.
The government of Kyiv continues to accuse Russia of arming rebels and fomenting the insurgency, charges which Moscow has repeatedly denied.