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Ukraine says it has made gains against rebels as Russia 'considers strikes' Ukraine says it has made gains against rebels as Russia 'considers strikes'
(about 1 hour later)
Ukrainian troops say they have made gains around one of the main remaining separatist strongholds, as Moscow reportedly weighed up "targeted" cross-border strikes following the alleged deadly shelling of a Russian town.Ukrainian troops say they have made gains around one of the main remaining separatist strongholds, as Moscow reportedly weighed up "targeted" cross-border strikes following the alleged deadly shelling of a Russian town.
Ukraine's western-backed president, Petro Poroshenko, said government forces had managed to break through a blockade by pro-Moscow rebels to reach soldiers camped out at the strategic airport in the insurgent-held bastion of Luhansk.Ukraine's western-backed president, Petro Poroshenko, said government forces had managed to break through a blockade by pro-Moscow rebels to reach soldiers camped out at the strategic airport in the insurgent-held bastion of Luhansk.
The industrial hub of some 425,000 people is the capital of one of the rebels' two self-declared "people's republics" and – along with million-strong Donetsk – now finds itself in the crosshairs of Kiev's reinvigorated military push to quash the three-month insurgency tearing apart the former Soviet state. The industrial hub of 425,000 people is the capital of one of the rebels' two self-declared "people's republics" and – along with million-strong Donetsk – now finds itself in the cross-hairs of Kiev's reinvigorated military push to quash the three-month insurgency tearing apart the former Soviet state.
The defence ministry said on Monday that Ukrainian jets had carried out five air strikes against separatist positions close to Luhansk, but there was no confirmation of rebel claims that Kiev had massed tanks in the outskirts in preparation for a major push into the city.The defence ministry said on Monday that Ukrainian jets had carried out five air strikes against separatist positions close to Luhansk, but there was no confirmation of rebel claims that Kiev had massed tanks in the outskirts in preparation for a major push into the city.
Local authorities said three people had been killed and 14 wounded in various incidents around the city over the past 24 hours, adding to a bloody weekend that saw one of the highest two-day civilian tolls so far in the conflict, which has now claimed about 550 lives.Local authorities said three people had been killed and 14 wounded in various incidents around the city over the past 24 hours, adding to a bloody weekend that saw one of the highest two-day civilian tolls so far in the conflict, which has now claimed about 550 lives.
Ukraine's army has also seen its losses spike in recent days after militias – which the west and Kiev allege are being armed by the Kremlin – killed 19 soldiers and wounded 100 more in a multiple-rocket attack late on Friday.Ukraine's army has also seen its losses spike in recent days after militias – which the west and Kiev allege are being armed by the Kremlin – killed 19 soldiers and wounded 100 more in a multiple-rocket attack late on Friday.
The military losses have profoundly dented emerging hopes in Kiev that its recent string of battlefield successes had finally convinced the rebels to sue for peace.The military losses have profoundly dented emerging hopes in Kiev that its recent string of battlefield successes had finally convinced the rebels to sue for peace.
The conflict risked spiralling even further amid reports that Moscow was considering strikes against Ukrainian positions after a shell allegedly crossed the border and killed a Russian civilian on Sunday.The conflict risked spiralling even further amid reports that Moscow was considering strikes against Ukrainian positions after a shell allegedly crossed the border and killed a Russian civilian on Sunday.
The well-connected Russian daily Kommersant cited a source close to the Kremlin as saying that Moscow was weighing up "targeted retaliatory strikes", but was not planning any large-scale action.The well-connected Russian daily Kommersant cited a source close to the Kremlin as saying that Moscow was weighing up "targeted retaliatory strikes", but was not planning any large-scale action.
"Our patience is not limitless," the source said, adding that Russia "knows exactly where they [Ukrainians] are firing from"."Our patience is not limitless," the source said, adding that Russia "knows exactly where they [Ukrainians] are firing from".
Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukrainian forces of shelling across the border but Sunday's incident saw the first claim of a fatality and the Russian foreign ministry said the incident risked "irreversible consequences".Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukrainian forces of shelling across the border but Sunday's incident saw the first claim of a fatality and the Russian foreign ministry said the incident risked "irreversible consequences".
Kiev has denied that its forces were behind the shelling and on Sunday Poroshenko called on the west to condemn "attacks by Russian soldiers on positions held by Ukrainian servicemen" in a phone conversation with the European council president, Herman van Rompuy.Kiev has denied that its forces were behind the shelling and on Sunday Poroshenko called on the west to condemn "attacks by Russian soldiers on positions held by Ukrainian servicemen" in a phone conversation with the European council president, Herman van Rompuy.
Poroshenko has previously vowed to kill "hundreds" of gunmen for every lost soldier and ordered an airtight military blockade of Luhansk and Donetsk.Poroshenko has previously vowed to kill "hundreds" of gunmen for every lost soldier and ordered an airtight military blockade of Luhansk and Donetsk.
European leaders responded by joining forces with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in an effort to persuade Poroshenko to put the brakes on violence first sparked by the ousting in February of the Kremlin-backed president Viktor Yanukovych and fanned by Russia's subsequent seizure of Crimea.European leaders responded by joining forces with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in an effort to persuade Poroshenko to put the brakes on violence first sparked by the ousting in February of the Kremlin-backed president Viktor Yanukovych and fanned by Russia's subsequent seizure of Crimea.
Hopes of a truce rested on a meeting between Putin and Poroshenko – the second since the Ukrainian president's May election – that seemed on the cards on the sidelines of the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro.Hopes of a truce rested on a meeting between Putin and Poroshenko – the second since the Ukrainian president's May election – that seemed on the cards on the sidelines of the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro.
But the Ukrainian presidency said on Sunday that Poroshenko had been forced to cancel his attendance "considering the situation currently happening in Ukraine".But the Ukrainian presidency said on Sunday that Poroshenko had been forced to cancel his attendance "considering the situation currently happening in Ukraine".
Putin instead met the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, for talks the Kremlin said had ended with a call on the warring sides to issue "a statement as soon as possible concerning a ceasefire, a prisoner swap, and the return of [international] monitors" to eastern Ukraine.Putin instead met the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, for talks the Kremlin said had ended with a call on the warring sides to issue "a statement as soon as possible concerning a ceasefire, a prisoner swap, and the return of [international] monitors" to eastern Ukraine.
A German government spokesman said Putin and Merkel had suggested Kiev and the separatists could launch their discussions by video conference.A German government spokesman said Putin and Merkel had suggested Kiev and the separatists could launch their discussions by video conference.