Ukraine claims airport victory
Ukraine said it had regained control of the airport in the eastern city of Donetsk after a day of punishing air strikes and fierce fighting with pro-Moscow separatist gunmen left dozens of people dead.
Russian President Vladimir Putin immediately called on Ukraine to end its “punitive” operation in the rebel- held east and for talks between Kyiv and the insurgents.
The battle for the main transport hub in Ukraine’s industrial heartland erupted just hours after president-elect Petro Poroshenko vowed to take a tough stand against the “terrorists.”
“The airport is under our full control. The enemy suffered heavy losses. We have none,” Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said yesterday.
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He said, however, that the military was continuing its operation at the airport, and there was sporadic gunfire and explosions.
Donetsk mayor Oleksandr Lukyanchenko said two civilians and 38 combatants had died, while rebel leaders suggested that the toll among their ranks could be higher.
Combat jets and helicopter gunships struck the airport terminal on Monday after it was seized by scores of gunmen just a day after Ukraine’s presidential election won by Poroshenko.
The strikes represented the most forceful action by Kyiv in its battle to crush a bloody rebellion that has raged in the coal and steel belt since early April.
The military action has also revived tensions between Kyiv and Moscow, which had initially said it was ready to work with the new leader of its western neighbor.
In a call with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Putin “underlined the need for an immediate end to the military’s punitive operation in southeastern regions and the establishment of peaceful dialogue between Kyiv and regional representatives,” the Kremlin said.
Poroshenko, a pro-Western chocolate tycoon, had said he was ready to engage with Russian leaders and was optimistic a meeting with Putin could be arranged soon.
Yesterday, however, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov – who had initially said the Kremlin was open to talks with the new leader, declared that a visit to Moscow by Poroshenko is “not being considered.”
Poroshenko said on Monday the military would press on with its offensive against the insurgents, who control about a dozen cities and towns in the east.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE