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Ukraine conflict: Ground forces 'storming Luhansk' Ukraine conflict: Fighting flares near city of Luhansk
(about 2 hours later)
Government forces in eastern Ukraine have begun storming the rebel-held city of Luhansk with tanks, Russian news agency reports quoting rebels say. Fighting has flared outside the rebel-held east Ukrainian city of Luhansk, with rebels saying government forces tried to storm the city with tanks.
Heavy fighting erupted as columns of government armour attacked from the south and west, rebel military leader Igor Strelkov was quoted as saying. Rebel military leader Igor Strelkov was quoted as saying his forces had beaten off columns of government armour attacking from the south and west.
He said there were unconfirmed reports of special forces landing by helicopter inside the city of 425,000 people. Pro-Ukrainian sources in the city of 425,000 people reported skirmishes in villages to the south and west.
There was no immediate confirmation from Kiev but bloggers report fighting. Germany and Russia have urged direct talks between Kiev and the rebels.
Meeting briefly in Rio de Janeiro before the World Cup final, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the talks to be held by video link, Mrs Merkel's office said in a statement (in German).
The two leaders agreed that the situation in Ukraine was "tending towards a deterioration", a Kremlin spokesman said.
Pro-Russian separatist rebels have been fighting the government in Kiev since declaring independence in Luhansk and the neighbouring region of Donetsk in April.Pro-Russian separatist rebels have been fighting the government in Kiev since declaring independence in Luhansk and the neighbouring region of Donetsk in April.
Meeting briefly in Rio de Janeiro before the World Cup final, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed that the situation in Ukraine was "tending towards a deterioration", a Kremlin spokesman said.
Mr Putin expressed concern about offensive operations by the Ukrainian government, saying they were unacceptable. Earlier, Russia protested after a man was allegedly killed on its side of the border by a shell fired from Ukraine. A Ukrainian official denied the attack.
Talks in Rio between Mr Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko were cancelled after the Ukrainian leader announced he would not be attending the final after all.Talks in Rio between Mr Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko were cancelled after the Ukrainian leader announced he would not be attending the final after all.
'Seventy tanks''Seventy tanks'
"Heavy fighting is under way on the outskirts of Luhansk," Strelkov told Ria-Novosti news agency. Strelkov (the nom-de-guerre of Igor Girkin) said the rebels had beaten off two government armoured columns numbering between 40 and 70 tanks.
"The enemy has thrown around 70 tanks into the battle in two compact groups of armour. There is as yet unconfirmed information about a helicopter landing of enemy special forces in the city itself." The rebels fought artillery skirmishes with the Ukrainian army "along the front", he said.
The rebels were fighting artillery skirmishes with the Ukrainian army "along the front", he said. According to a report (in Russian) on the local anti-rebel news website Informator, Ukrainian forces entered the village of Sabivka, just west of Luhansk, on Sunday. Shooting broke out and local residents took shelter in cellars, it said.
Ukrainian forces entered the village of Sabivka, just west of Luhansk, on Sunday, according to a report (in Russian) on the local anti-rebel news website Informator,
Shooting broke out and local residents took shelter in cellars, it said.
Another local pro-Ukrainian news website, 0642.ua, also reported fighting in Sabivka, quoting an unnamed local woman.Another local pro-Ukrainian news website, 0642.ua, also reported fighting in Sabivka, quoting an unnamed local woman.
Fighting was also reported around 17:00 (14:00 GMT) just south of Luhansk, in the villages of Heorhiivka and Rozkishne, by the Luhansk news website sxid.info.Fighting was also reported around 17:00 (14:00 GMT) just south of Luhansk, in the villages of Heorhiivka and Rozkishne, by the Luhansk news website sxid.info.
An Luhansk anonymous blogger, who tweets as @journal1st_88, wrote of hearing explosions, sirens, shooting and planes flying overhead in Luhansk.An Luhansk anonymous blogger, who tweets as @journal1st_88, wrote of hearing explosions, sirens, shooting and planes flying overhead in Luhansk.
The government began an "anti-terrorist operation" in April to crush the rebellion in the eastern regions.The government began an "anti-terrorist operation" in April to crush the rebellion in the eastern regions.
On Friday, it suffered one of its heaviest losses when an armoured column was hit by rebel rockets in Donetsk region and at least 19 soldiers were killed and about 100 injured.On Friday, it suffered one of its heaviest losses when an armoured column was hit by rebel rockets in Donetsk region and at least 19 soldiers were killed and about 100 injured.
A rocket attack on the Donetsk city suburb of Marinka on Friday night killed at least four people, with the rebels and government blaming each other.A rocket attack on the Donetsk city suburb of Marinka on Friday night killed at least four people, with the rebels and government blaming each other.
And earlier on Sunday, Russia warned of "irreversible consequences" after a man was allegedly killed on its side of the border by a shell fired from Ukraine.
The incident reportedly happened when a shell hit the courtyard of a residential building in a small Russian border town, also called Donetsk. The Ukrainian government denied firing on Russian territory.
More than 1,000 civilians and combatants are believed to have died in the fighting since April.More than 1,000 civilians and combatants are believed to have died in the fighting since April.
Are you in Luhansk? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject 'Luhansk'.Are you in Luhansk? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject 'Luhansk'.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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