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Ukraine crisis: Many soldiers die in Donetsk attack Ukraine crisis: Soldiers killed in Donetsk attack
(about 1 hour later)
Ukraine's government has confirmed a deadly attack on troops in the eastern region of Donetsk, with reports saying at least 11 soldiers died. Ukraine's government has confirmed a deadly attack on troops in the eastern region of Donetsk, with reports saying at least 10 soldiers died.
Heavily armed "terrorists" attacked a checkpoint in the Volnovakha area, killing or wounding a number of soldiers, the defence ministry said. Heavily armed militants attacked a checkpoint in the Volnovakha area, in one of four attacks reported overnight in eastern Ukraine.
Associated Press journalists counted 11 bodies at the scene while a Russian website said 15 soldiers had died. Ukrainian soldiers told the BBC that at least 10 soldiers had died but agency journalists counted 11 bodies.
Russia appears to be withdrawing troops from its border with Ukraine. The attacks come just three days before Ukraine's presidential election.
Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a tweet that Russian troop activity near the Ukraine border suggested some Russian forces were preparing to pull back. The country's interim Prime Minister, Arseny Yatseniuk, has called for an emergency session of the UN Security Council, saying he has evidence of Russian involvement in the violence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops near the border to withdraw to their bases earlier this week. Correspondents said removing the troops - estimated to number 40,000 - could help de-escalate the Ukraine crisis. Russia appears to be withdrawing troops from its border with Ukraine, easing fears of a military intervention like in Crimea in March.
Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a tweet that Russian troop activity near the Ukraine border might suggest that some Russian forces were preparing to pull back.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops near the border to withdraw to their bases earlier this week. Correspondents say removing the troops - estimated to number 40,000 - could help de-escalate the Ukraine crisis.
Ukrainians go to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president but voting in Donetsk and Luhansk has been seriously disrupted by the insurgency there.Ukrainians go to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president but voting in Donetsk and Luhansk has been seriously disrupted by the insurgency there.
The election was called after the last elected President, Viktor Yanukovych, was deposed in February amid mass protests against his pro-Russian policies.The election was called after the last elected President, Viktor Yanukovych, was deposed in February amid mass protests against his pro-Russian policies.
Charred vehiclesCharred vehicles
Separatists have been skirmishing with security forces in Donetsk for weeks but this is the deadliest attack on soldiers to date. Associated Press news agency journalists, at the scene of the attack outside the village of Blahodatne, which is near the town of Volnovakha, said 30 other soldiers had been wounded.
AP's crew said 30 other soldiers had been wounded in the attack, outside the village of Blahodatne, which is near the town of Volnovakha.
Three charred Ukrainian armoured infantry vehicles, their turrets blown away by powerful explosions, and several burned lorries stood at the site of the fighting.Three charred Ukrainian armoured infantry vehicles, their turrets blown away by powerful explosions, and several burned lorries stood at the site of the fighting.
Amateur video appeared on Youtube showing what appears to be a glimpse of the attack site from a passing car. BBC journalists who reached the scene were not allowed to film by Ukrainian soldiers.
The Russian source, pro-Kremlin news website Lifenews, quoted an unnamed police source as saying 15 had been killed and 35 wounded. Local people told the BBC's Olga Ivshina that fighting had erupted at 05:00 local time (02:00 GMT). They said they had heard explosions and gunfire and some spoke of seeing many wounded later.
Both the defence ministry and Ukrainian military journalist Dmytro Tymchu blamed the latest attack on "terrorists" - the term commonly used by Ukrainian officials for armed pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and the neighbouring Luhansk region. The defence ministry blamed the latest attack on "terrorists" - the term commonly used by Ukrainian officials for armed pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and the neighbouring Luhansk region.
But Donetsk rebel leader Pavel Gubarev went on Facebook to deny that separatist forces had attacked the soldiers. Rebel claim
Donetsk rebel leader Pavel Gubarev went on Facebook to deny that separatist forces had attacked the soldiers.
However, a self-styled rebel commander in a nearby town, Horlivka, told AP that his forces had carried out the assault and had seized weapons.
"We destroyed a checkpoint of the fascist Ukrainian army deployed on the land of the Donetsk Republic,'' said the commander, who wore a balaclava and identified himself by his nom de guerre, Bess ("demon" in Russian).
"The weapons you see here have been taken from the dead, they are trophies. People living in western Ukraine: think about where you are sending your brothers, fathers and sons, and why you need any of this."
Separatists have been skirmishing with security forces in Donetsk for weeks but this is the deadliest attack on soldiers to date.
Ukrainian security chief Andriy Parubiy said four attacks had taken place overnight, three of them repelled with loss of life and one - in the Luhansk region - still going on.