DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — A civilian has been killed in shelling in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol and large explosions were heard near the airport in Donetsk early Sunday. This is raising fears that a cease-fire signed two days ago is on the verge of collapse.
Blasts from the area near the airport were powerful enough to be heard in downtown Donetsk, the main rebel-held city in eastern Ukraine.
A spokesman for Ukraine’s national security council, Volodymyr Polyovyi, said at a briefing in Kiev that rebels appeared to have tried to attack the airport, which has been under the control of government troops since May. The airport has come under unrelenting attacks from pro-Russia separatist rebels since then.
The cease-fire had appeared to be holding for much of the day Saturday, but shelling started late at night. A rebel statement said Ukrainian forces violated the cease-fire by firing on their positions in six locations on Saturday, including near the Donetsk airport. The statement said several rebels were killed.
Shelling also occurred overnight on the outskirts of the port city of Mariupol, where Ukrainian troops retain defensive lines against the rebels.
The city council said that one civilian was killed and a serviceman was wounded. A shell also destroyed a nearby gas station and the volunteer Azov Battalion said on Facebook that their positions were hit by Grad rockets, but did not give details.
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APPHOTO XSG118: Pro-Russian rebels drive an armored truck in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014. Strong explosions were heard early Sunday on the outskirts of the main rebel-held city in eastern Ukraine near the airport, raising new fears that a cease-fire signed two days ago is on the verge of collapse. Blasts powerful enough to be heard in downtown Donetsk came from the area near the airport, which has been under the control of government troops since May and has come under unremitting attacks from pro-Russia separatist rebels since then. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (7 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO XSG115: Canned cucumbers and heavy machine gun ammunition are seen in Pro-Russian rebel’s car in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014. Strong explosions were heard early Sunday on the outskirts of the main rebel-held city in eastern Ukraine near the airport, raising new fears that a cease-fire signed two days ago is on the verge of collapse. Blasts powerful enough to be heard in downtown Donetsk came from the area near the airport, which has been under the control of government troops since May and has come under unremitting attacks from pro-Russia separatist rebels since then. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (7 Sep 2014)
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