Kiev troops retake strategic town of Mariupol
Sunday, June 15th, 2014 4:16:09 by Khalil Khan
Ukrainian – National Guard troops and Interior Ministry say the control of Mariupol city in the east of the country has been retaken from the separatists this Friday, as part of its operations against pro-Russian militia forces that control several region. The Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, announced at 10.34 hours, the Ukrainian flag was hoisted in the city of Mariupol.” Avakov has stated that no casualties among the ranks of the Ukrainian troops in skirmishes in the city, although four officers were injured.
The offensive began at dawn. The pro-Russian separatist forces, raised against the Government of Kiev, confirmed the fighting “. Our positions are attacked by the battalion Azov’ve had five casualties,” a spokesman for the insurgents told the Russian news agency Interfax.
The pro-Russian spokesman pointed to the Interfax news agency that the city center is surrounded by the troops of the National Guard and that there has been heavy fighting.
The rebels used mortars and machine guns, while, according to witnesses reported by Reuters, the residents of the neighborhoods where it has been fighting between the two sides took refuge in basements.
Mariupol is the largest town on the Azov Sea coast and an important center for steel exports. The coastal city, whose control has been played numerous times in recent weeks, is strategically important as it is situated within a network of roads connecting Ukraine with Russia.
The Interior Minister has said that as a result of the military operation in Mariupol, the government has taken control of a stretch of 120 kilometers from the border with Russia. It is unclear who controls the 2,000 -kilometer border, says France Presse. On Thursday, Avakov accused Russia of providing tanks and other weapons to the separatist forces.
Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=45273
Posted by Khalil Khan
on Jun 15 2014. Filed under Europe.
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