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| Ukraine President Poroshenko hails 'turning point' | Ukraine President Poroshenko hails 'turning point' |
| (21 days later) | |
| Ukraine's president has hailed the recapture of the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk as the start of a turning point in the three-month conflict. | Ukraine's president has hailed the recapture of the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk as the start of a turning point in the three-month conflict. |
| Petro Poroshenko said it was not a total victory, but rather an event of "huge symbolic importance". | Petro Poroshenko said it was not a total victory, but rather an event of "huge symbolic importance". |
| Government forces have made territorial gains since launching an offensive this week in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, following the breakdown of a ceasefire. | Government forces have made territorial gains since launching an offensive this week in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, following the breakdown of a ceasefire. |
| Pro-Russian rebels still hold the two regional capitals and other key areas. | Pro-Russian rebels still hold the two regional capitals and other key areas. |
| But Sloviansk had been considered a focal point of the rebellion, and was the military centre of the self-declared People's Republic of Donetsk. | But Sloviansk had been considered a focal point of the rebellion, and was the military centre of the self-declared People's Republic of Donetsk. |
| Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev | Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev |
| Of the government's victories so far, the retaking of Sloviansk and raising of the Ukrainian flag over city hall is by far the most significant. The city was not just a command centre for the insurgency - it was a symbol of the militants' continuing ability to thwart Kiev's attempts to reassert control in the east. | Of the government's victories so far, the retaking of Sloviansk and raising of the Ukrainian flag over city hall is by far the most significant. The city was not just a command centre for the insurgency - it was a symbol of the militants' continuing ability to thwart Kiev's attempts to reassert control in the east. |
| Now, it appears that the insurgents may also be evacuating Kramatorsk, another key city. But the question is whether this is a turning point in the war, or merely a shifting of the battlefield. | Now, it appears that the insurgents may also be evacuating Kramatorsk, another key city. But the question is whether this is a turning point in the war, or merely a shifting of the battlefield. |
| The rebels are calling this a tactical retreat, which is typically a euphemism for a defeat. But if they are moving en masse to Donetsk, it could still present a major military challenge to government forces. It could also convince the rebels to engage in ceasefire talks more actively - if only to buy more time. | The rebels are calling this a tactical retreat, which is typically a euphemism for a defeat. But if they are moving en masse to Donetsk, it could still present a major military challenge to government forces. It could also convince the rebels to engage in ceasefire talks more actively - if only to buy more time. |
| Ukraine crisis timeline | Ukraine crisis timeline |
| "This is not a complete victory yet, and it is not the time for celebrations," Mr Poroshenko said in a televised address. | "This is not a complete victory yet, and it is not the time for celebrations," Mr Poroshenko said in a televised address. |
| "But the cleansing of Sloviansk from gangs who are armed to the teeth is of huge symbolic importance. This is the start of a turning point in the fight against the militants." | "But the cleansing of Sloviansk from gangs who are armed to the teeth is of huge symbolic importance. This is the start of a turning point in the fight against the militants." |
| Ukrainian officials said the military was now in Sloviansk, and promised humanitarian aid would be delivered soon. | Ukrainian officials said the military was now in Sloviansk, and promised humanitarian aid would be delivered soon. |
| The rebels left the city after a night of mortar shelling in a move apparently orchestrated by the breakaway region's military commander, Igor Strelkov. | The rebels left the city after a night of mortar shelling in a move apparently orchestrated by the breakaway region's military commander, Igor Strelkov. |
| A rebel spokesman said their forces would abandon the entire "northern sector" and pull back to Donetsk city. | A rebel spokesman said their forces would abandon the entire "northern sector" and pull back to Donetsk city. |
| The Ukrainian government had earlier claimed to have retaken two small towns. | The Ukrainian government had earlier claimed to have retaken two small towns. |
| And other reports said Kramatorsk city, near Sloviansk, had also been recaptured. | And other reports said Kramatorsk city, near Sloviansk, had also been recaptured. |
| Who is Igor Strelkov? | Who is Igor Strelkov? |
| Violence erupted in eastern Ukraine in April, when separatists declared independence in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | Violence erupted in eastern Ukraine in April, when separatists declared independence in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
| Earlier this week, the government claimed to have retaken two-thirds of the territory in those regions. | Earlier this week, the government claimed to have retaken two-thirds of the territory in those regions. |
| The current crisis started when President Viktor Yanukovych decided last November not to sign an agreement with the EU. | The current crisis started when President Viktor Yanukovych decided last November not to sign an agreement with the EU. |
| The decision led to street protests in Kiev, and Mr Yanukovich was eventually overthrown. | The decision led to street protests in Kiev, and Mr Yanukovich was eventually overthrown. |
| The developments angered Russia, which annexed Ukraine's Crimea region. | The developments angered Russia, which annexed Ukraine's Crimea region. |