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| Rockets kill 30 in Mariupol as rebels launch offensive | Rockets kill 30 in Mariupol as rebels launch offensive |
| (4 months later) | |
| A series of rocket attacks has left 30 people dead and many more injured in the city of Mariupol in east Ukraine. | A series of rocket attacks has left 30 people dead and many more injured in the city of Mariupol in east Ukraine. |
| Ukraine blamed pro-Russia rebels, but the separatists said Ukrainian forces were behind the attacks. | Ukraine blamed pro-Russia rebels, but the separatists said Ukrainian forces were behind the attacks. |
| East Ukraine's main rebel leader claimed he had begun an offensive against Mariupol, but later said he "will not storm the city". | East Ukraine's main rebel leader claimed he had begun an offensive against Mariupol, but later said he "will not storm the city". |
| The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said the rockets came from rebel-held areas. | The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said the rockets came from rebel-held areas. |
| But Alexander Zakharchenko, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said his forces had not carried out "active operations" near Mariupol until Saturday, Russian news agencies report. | But Alexander Zakharchenko, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said his forces had not carried out "active operations" near Mariupol until Saturday, Russian news agencies report. |
| However, he added that after Kiev blamed the rebels for the attack, he ordered his troops to "neutralise" the positions of Ukrainian troops east of the port city. | However, he added that after Kiev blamed the rebels for the attack, he ordered his troops to "neutralise" the positions of Ukrainian troops east of the port city. |
| Meanwhile, Ukraine's security service has published what it claims are intercepted audio messages between separatist rebels speaking about the Mariupol attack. | Meanwhile, Ukraine's security service has published what it claims are intercepted audio messages between separatist rebels speaking about the Mariupol attack. |
| The authenticity of the messages has not been independently verified. | The authenticity of the messages has not been independently verified. |
| No truce talks | No truce talks |
| International organisations, including the European Union, condemned the attacks. | International organisations, including the European Union, condemned the attacks. |
| The OSCE called the incident "reckless, indiscriminate and disgraceful" and demanded a full investigation. | The OSCE called the incident "reckless, indiscriminate and disgraceful" and demanded a full investigation. |
| Nato also criticised the attacks, adding that "Russian troops in eastern Ukraine are supporting these offensive operations" by supplying weapons. | Nato also criticised the attacks, adding that "Russian troops in eastern Ukraine are supporting these offensive operations" by supplying weapons. |
| Ukraine's Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak said military positions in Mariupol were being strengthened. | Ukraine's Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak said military positions in Mariupol were being strengthened. |
| His ministry said the city had been hit by three separate strikes by Grad rockets. | His ministry said the city had been hit by three separate strikes by Grad rockets. |
| Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has called for a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss what he says is Russia's role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. | Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has called for a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss what he says is Russia's role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. |
| "Russia is not only breaching the Minsk agreements - Russia is violating the fundamental principles of international law and humanity," Mr Yatseniuk told a meeting in Kiev. | "Russia is not only breaching the Minsk agreements - Russia is violating the fundamental principles of international law and humanity," Mr Yatseniuk told a meeting in Kiev. |
| Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has announced he is returning early from a trip to Saudi Arabia to plan a response to events in Mariupol. | Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has announced he is returning early from a trip to Saudi Arabia to plan a response to events in Mariupol. |
| He denounced the incident as "a crime against humanity" and called on the rebels "to name their sponsors". | He denounced the incident as "a crime against humanity" and called on the rebels "to name their sponsors". |
| Strategic city | Strategic city |
| The incident comes a day after Mr Zakharchenko said he did not want truce talks with Kiev. | The incident comes a day after Mr Zakharchenko said he did not want truce talks with Kiev. |
| On Saturday he claimed the Mariupol offensive would be "the best possible monument to all our dead". | On Saturday he claimed the Mariupol offensive would be "the best possible monument to all our dead". |
| The rebel leader made his comments at a memorial ceremony for those killed in an artillery attack on a bus stop in the rebel-held city of Donetsk on Friday. | The rebel leader made his comments at a memorial ceremony for those killed in an artillery attack on a bus stop in the rebel-held city of Donetsk on Friday. |
| Mariupol has a population of 500,000 and is in a highly strategic position, sitting between rebel-held eastern areas and Crimea, which was annexed by Russia last March. The city saw heavy fighting in August. | Mariupol has a population of 500,000 and is in a highly strategic position, sitting between rebel-held eastern areas and Crimea, which was annexed by Russia last March. The city saw heavy fighting in August. |
| Unverified video footage on Saturday indicated that a number of cars, houses and apartment buildings had been struck and were in flames. | Unverified video footage on Saturday indicated that a number of cars, houses and apartment buildings had been struck and were in flames. |
| The BBC's David Stern says the attack appeared to come from a multiple-rocket launcher, which fires a large number of missiles over a spread-out area. | The BBC's David Stern says the attack appeared to come from a multiple-rocket launcher, which fires a large number of missiles over a spread-out area. |
| Mayor killed | Mayor killed |
| Also on Friday, rebel military spokesman Eduard Basurin said 24 rebels had been killed and 30 wounded in recent fighting. He called it "the heaviest losses in our ranks" in a 24-hour period. | Also on Friday, rebel military spokesman Eduard Basurin said 24 rebels had been killed and 30 wounded in recent fighting. He called it "the heaviest losses in our ranks" in a 24-hour period. |
| In another development, the rebel mayor of Pervomaysk, west of Luhansk, has been killed, reports say. | In another development, the rebel mayor of Pervomaysk, west of Luhansk, has been killed, reports say. |
| The body of Yevhen Ischchenko was found in a car. Three other men were apparently killed along with him. The local rebel leadership blamed Ukrainian agents, but other sources said it was the result of infighting. | The body of Yevhen Ischchenko was found in a car. Three other men were apparently killed along with him. The local rebel leadership blamed Ukrainian agents, but other sources said it was the result of infighting. |
| Since April, more than 5,000 people have died in fighting in the east. | Since April, more than 5,000 people have died in fighting in the east. |
| The rebels currently control a large swathe of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. More than a million people have been displaced. | The rebels currently control a large swathe of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. More than a million people have been displaced. |
| A ceasefire was agreed in Minsk in September but never fully took hold. | A ceasefire was agreed in Minsk in September but never fully took hold. |
| Ukraine: the human cost | Ukraine: the human cost |
| Source: UN report of 9 January for refugee figures; news reports for casualty estimates | Source: UN report of 9 January for refugee figures; news reports for casualty estimates |
| Donetsk airport: Ukraine's coveted prize | Donetsk airport: Ukraine's coveted prize |
| Are you in Mariupol? Have you been affected by recent events? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Are you in Mariupol? Have you been affected by recent events? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or 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). Or you can upload here. |
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