January 31, 2017 (Euronews) Fighting in east Ukraine has
escalated, with reports that at least seven government soldiers and 15
pro-Russian separatists have been killed over the past two days. Ukrainian
defence officials accused what they said were ‘Russian occupying forces’ of
firing towards the eastern frontline town of Avdiivka, while separatist
leaders blamed government forces for the spike in violence. Houses in Makiyivka
to the south of Avdiivka were damaged, one resident described the moment the
fighting erupted. “I was in the garden when I heard incoming shelling. When the
third shell hit that house I ran to the cellar. That’s what saved me,” he said.
Typical view of Avdiivka's suburb
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko cut short a trip to Germany to oversee the
emergency situation in Avdiivka. The surge in violence comes after Donald
Trump had his first phone call with the Russian President, in which they discussed
the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria. The latest casualties add to the estimated
10,000 already killed in the three-year battle over territory near the
Ukraine-Russia border.
Recaptured from pro-Russian
rebels in 2014, Avdiivka is a key stronghold for the Ukrainian army which it
is desperately trying to retain. The town is close to rebel-controlled Donetsk
and important roads and intersections used by the rebels to transport machinery
and ammunition. Just as important is the town's coking and chemical plant - the
biggest of its kind in Europe. If it fell into rebel hands it would cut
much-needed supplies to Ukraine's steel industry.
On Sunday we have lost three valiant defenders of Avdiivka:
Andrew Kyzylo (year of birth : 1993), Volodymyr Balchenko (year of birth : 1992),
and Dmytro Overchenko (year of birth : 1989).
0 comments:
Post a Comment