June 5, 2015

Fighting reported west of Donetsk

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 KYIV – Ukraine’s military says separatists have launched an offensive using tanks, mortars, and artillery toward government positions west of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk. Army spokesman Andriy Lysenko said on June 3 that the rebels launched “a massive bombardment on our positions near Maryinka and Krasnohorivka including from heavy weapons.” Ukrainian forces are “holding off all the attacks,” he added. Maryinka is located 15 kilometers west of Donetsk. Senior “separatist” commander Eduard Basurin was quoted as saying clashes were still going on in that area as of 1.45 p.m. local time, and accused government troops of firing artillery at rebel forces. Meanwhile, rebel officials said shooting cut off electricity at the Skochinsky mine in the Donetsk region, trapping more than 350 miners underground. One official said the miners were being evacuated. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax)

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