News.Kyiv.Me.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s military accused Russian-backed separatists of again violating a
month-old cease-fire today, saying their forces came under attack in several parts of the east,
including at the airport in Donetsk.

Two Ukrainian service staff members were killed in the past 24 hours and six others were
wounded, military spokesman Volodymyr Polyovy said, adding: “The terrorists are violating the terms
of the cease-fire.”

In Donetsk, the rebels’ stronghold in east Ukraine, a senior military leader of the
separatists said three of his fighters were killed and another 32 wounded in the past 24 hours,
mainly in fighting around the airport.

Rebels have been trying for weeks to dislodge government troops from the airport, a strategic
spot for both sides.

“The airport is a springboard for the city,” rebel official Eduard Basulin said. “Our main
task is to push them (government forces) away from the city so that they can no longer shell
residential districts.”

Polyovy said there was also fighting around the towns of Debaltseve and Shchastye, both
further east toward the border with Russia.

Basulin said three civilians had been killed in Donetsk area in the past 24 hours and blamed
Ukrainian forces for shelling the city’s outskirts from positions adjacent to the airport.

The Ukrainian military denies firing on civilian targets and says it only replies to fire
when it is attacked by separatists.