Ukraine rebel leader: We are open to a cease-fire – 11 Hours Ago
August 9, 2014
Ukraine rebel leader: We are open to a cease-fire
Associated Press
Sat Aug 09, 2014, 08:00 PM EDT
DONETSK, Ukraine — Ukrainian troops have surrounded the rebel-held city of Donetsk and the insurgents are willing to accept a cease-fire in order to stave off a humanitarian catastrophe, a top rebel leader announced Saturday.
Conditions in Donetsk, the largest rebel stronghold in eastern Ukraine, were clearly deteriorating. As the thunder of artillery reverberated Saturday, the streets of the city, home to nearly 1 million people before 300,000 fled the conflict, were nearly empty of cars and pedestrians. Most stores were closed.
There was no immediate government response to the statement from Aleksandr Zakharchenko, the so-called prime minister of the Donetsk separatists, or to reports that Donetsk was surrounded. Zakharchenko’s comments could be aimed at increasing international pressure to allow in a Russian mission.
Russia, which the Ukrainian government in Kyiv and Western countries allege is supporting the rebels, has called repeatedly for a humanitarian mission into eastern Ukraine. But Kyiv and the West suggest that could be just a pretext to send Russian forces into the region — and say some 20,000 Russian troops are just across the border.
“The situation is getting worse with every hour,” Donetsk city council spokesman Maxim Rovinsky told The Associated Press.
At least one person was killed and 18 wounded in shelling Saturday that hit about 30 apartment blocks in Donetsk, he said, adding that about 2,000 residential buildings had no electricity.
Explosions were also heard Saturday on the northern outskirts near Donetsk’s airport.
Ukrainian officials have consistently denied that their forces are shelling civilians, but the rebels dismiss that and claim the government is aiming to blame the insurgents for the increasing death and destruction in the region. Ukraine says the rebels have deliberately put rocket launchers in populated areas.
Some say both sides are to blame.
“We’re afraid of the Ukrainian army, which is firing on the city, and of the rebels of the Donetsk People’s Republic, who are robbing and killing civilians,” said Dmitry Andronov, a 47-year-old resident.
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