Associated Press: 19. August 2014
Ukrainian soldiers from 'Donbas' battalion are briefed by a commander before fighting commences against militants near Ilovaysk town, outside Donetsk, Ukraine
DONETSK, Ukraine — The Ukrainian government has captured most of a town near Donetsk, tightening the noose around the key rebel-held stronghold, officials said on Tuesday.
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said in a Facebook post that one soldier was killed and four wounded when a volunteer battalion came under mortar fire before entering the town of Ilovaysk, 18 kilometers (11 miles) east of Donetsk.
Among the wounded is the commander of the Donbass battalion, Semyon Semenchenko, who said government soldiers destroyed three rebel checkpoints and four firing positions, and that fighting continues.
Government efforts to quell the pro-Russian separatist front have focused lately on gradually encircling Donetsk, the largest rebel-controlled city.
Donetsk - After the fighting: A firefighter puts out a blaze which destroyed several buses in the city
Volunteer battalions have proven essential in the government offensive against armed separatists in the mainly Russian-speaking east.
Fighting between government troops and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine has forced nearly 344,000 people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations — a number that has only grown as the humanitarian situation in rebel-held cities deteriorates.
The situation appears to be particularly dire in the city of Luhansk, near the Russian border, which has been left without electricity, running water or phone connections for 17 days. Independent reports from the besieged city are scarce since the area is very dangerous for journalists.
The Ukrainian troops liberated one of the four districts of Luhansk from the pro Russian rebels. The Zhovtnevyi district is the largest district in Luhansk, where almost 200 thousand people lived before the insurgents seized the city.
The city hall said in a statement on its website on Tuesday that Luhansk and its city center came under fierce shelling overnight.
Earlier the Ukrainian troops managed to cut off Luhansk from the rest of the territory that is under control of the separatists.
Luhansk under shelling.
An unspecified number of civilians were killed or wounded. Residents are standing in lines to buy bread as food supplies are running out, the city hall said. Authorities also raised the alarm about a potential outbreak of infectious diseases since household waste has not been taken out of town for more than two weeks amid sweltering heat.
Ukrainian servicemen drive armored vehicles along a road as they patrol the Donetsk region August 18, 2014
Ukraine and the West have voiced concern about Russia's military activity at the Ukrainian border. Moscow has said it can do what it wants within its borders but invited a mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to observe two border crossings in a bid to counter claims that the Kremlin is supplying the rebels with weapons.
Paul Picard, head of that mission, told reporters in a Russian border town on Tuesday that observers had seen a marked increase of military activity around the border points over the past week, including Russian helicopter activity. But he said no helicopters were observed crossing the border.
Picard also said that the observers had seen "groups of young men and women wearing military-style dress" moving back and forth across the border. No weapons or military vehicles were observed.
EMPR: 19. August 2014
Serbian mortarman was detained in Ilovaysk
Ilovaysk, August 17, 2014.
Slovakia citizen of Serbian origin Miroslav Rohachu, who served as a mortarman for the Donetsk People's Republic, was detained in Ilovaysk, which ATO forces continue to liberate from militants. This was informed by Anton Gerashchenko, Advisor to the MIA Minister, with reference to 'Donbas' battalion commander Semen Semenchenko.
‘Near a diesel house there was detained EU citizen of Serbian origin – Miroslav Rohachu, citizen of the Slovak Republic, born in Banska Bystrica. He served as a mortarman for terrorists. He said he had come to Ukraine not as a recruiter, but as a volunteer. Investigators will check this story', Anton Gerashchenko said.
It should be reminded, that last night ATO forces involving Donbas, Dnipro, Azov and Shakhtarsk battalions assisted by armour of the Armed Forces managed to get to the centre of Ilovaysk and to put Ukrainian flag on the Town Council. The combat for Ilovaysk is ongoing. ATO forces are in control of more than half of the town. It is known that 6 militants were killed.
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