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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine crisis: Government setbacks in Luhansk and Donetsk | Ukraine crisis: Government setbacks in Luhansk and Donetsk |
| (2 days later) | |
| Ukrainian forces have suffered a series of setbacks, as pro-Russian rebels advance in the east of the country. | Ukrainian forces have suffered a series of setbacks, as pro-Russian rebels advance in the east of the country. |
| Officials said nearly 700 soldiers had been taken prisoner since the rebel offensive began. | Officials said nearly 700 soldiers had been taken prisoner since the rebel offensive began. |
| Earlier the military said government forces had been forced to withdraw from Luhansk airport, saying they had been attacked by a column of Russian tanks. | Earlier the military said government forces had been forced to withdraw from Luhansk airport, saying they had been attacked by a column of Russian tanks. |
| Ukraine's defence minister said it was now fighting a "great war" with Russia in which tens of thousands could die. | Ukraine's defence minister said it was now fighting a "great war" with Russia in which tens of thousands could die. |
| Valery Heletey said on his Facebook page that the rebels had been defeated and Russia had been forced to begin a full-scale invasion of the region with regular forces. | Valery Heletey said on his Facebook page that the rebels had been defeated and Russia had been forced to begin a full-scale invasion of the region with regular forces. |
| "A great war has arrived at our doorstep - the likes of which Europe has not seen since World War Two," he said. | "A great war has arrived at our doorstep - the likes of which Europe has not seen since World War Two," he said. |
| "Unfortunately, the losses in such a war will be measured not in the hundreds but thousands and tens of thousands." | "Unfortunately, the losses in such a war will be measured not in the hundreds but thousands and tens of thousands." |
| Russia has repeatedly denied Ukrainian and Western accusations that it is providing troops and equipment to the rebels. | Russia has repeatedly denied Ukrainian and Western accusations that it is providing troops and equipment to the rebels. |
| Meanwhile, Ukrainian and Russian officials are holding talks with separatist rebels and international monitors in Minsk. | Meanwhile, Ukrainian and Russian officials are holding talks with separatist rebels and international monitors in Minsk. |
| Some 2,600 people have died in eastern Ukraine since fighting began in April. | Some 2,600 people have died in eastern Ukraine since fighting began in April. |
| The conflict broke out after Russia's annexation of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula in March. | The conflict broke out after Russia's annexation of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula in March. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| 'Organised withdrawal' | 'Organised withdrawal' |
| The rebels have been gaining ground on Ukrainian forces in recent days, in both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and further south around the port of Mariupol. | The rebels have been gaining ground on Ukrainian forces in recent days, in both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and further south around the port of Mariupol. |
| Ukrainian news agency UNIAN quoted a senior official as saying that as many as 680 soldiers had been captured in Donetsk region after the recent fighting. | Ukrainian news agency UNIAN quoted a senior official as saying that as many as 680 soldiers had been captured in Donetsk region after the recent fighting. |
| Col-Gen Volodymyr Ruban, chairman of the Centre for Prisoner Exchange, said "about 80%" of them were captured around Ilovaysk, east of the city of Donetsk, where hundreds of Ukrainian troops have been cut off since the latest rebel advance began. | Col-Gen Volodymyr Ruban, chairman of the Centre for Prisoner Exchange, said "about 80%" of them were captured around Ilovaysk, east of the city of Donetsk, where hundreds of Ukrainian troops have been cut off since the latest rebel advance began. |
| Ukraine's security council confirmed that its troops had withdrawn from Luhansk airport "in an organised manner". | Ukraine's security council confirmed that its troops had withdrawn from Luhansk airport "in an organised manner". |
| Clashes are said to still be taking place near the airport of the city of Donetsk, with separatists claiming that two Ukrainian platoons have surrendered. | Clashes are said to still be taking place near the airport of the city of Donetsk, with separatists claiming that two Ukrainian platoons have surrendered. |
| There were also reports of an attack on a Ukrainian patrol vessel in the Azov Sea on Sunday night. | There were also reports of an attack on a Ukrainian patrol vessel in the Azov Sea on Sunday night. |
| The talks in Minsk started on Monday, involving the so-called Contact Group which includes representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. | The talks in Minsk started on Monday, involving the so-called Contact Group which includes representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. |
| After several hours they were adjourned until Friday. | After several hours they were adjourned until Friday. |
| Rebel representatives appear to have softened their demand for full independence, telling Russian media they were seeking a "special status" for their regions within Ukraine which would leave them in charge of security and give them amnesty from prosecution. | Rebel representatives appear to have softened their demand for full independence, telling Russian media they were seeking a "special status" for their regions within Ukraine which would leave them in charge of security and give them amnesty from prosecution. |
| The status would also "take into consideration the necessity of deepening economic integration with Russia", the rebels say. | The status would also "take into consideration the necessity of deepening economic integration with Russia", the rebels say. |
| Correspondents say what they are demanding would mean the de facto division of the country, as the Ukrainian government is set on closer economic ties to the EU. | Correspondents say what they are demanding would mean the de facto division of the country, as the Ukrainian government is set on closer economic ties to the EU. |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, meanwhile, said he was counting on the talks to focus on "agreeing an immediate and unconditional ceasefire". | Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, meanwhile, said he was counting on the talks to focus on "agreeing an immediate and unconditional ceasefire". |
| He also insisted there would be "no military intervention" from Russia in Ukraine. | He also insisted there would be "no military intervention" from Russia in Ukraine. |
| Last week's first direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko, did not lead to any major breakthrough. | Last week's first direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko, did not lead to any major breakthrough. |
| War in eastern Ukraine: The human cost | War in eastern Ukraine: The human cost |