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Ukraine crisis: Heavy bombardment in rebel-held Donetsk


There has been an intense artillery bombardment overnight in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.


A BBC correspondent in the city said the shellingwas the worst in more than a month, lasting almost eight hours.

She said it appeared to be coming from both rebel and government positions.

The fighting comes a day after large numbers of unmarked military vehicles were seen in rebel-held areas. Ukraine says it believes the rebels have received equipment from Russia.

More than 4,000 people have died since fighting erupted in April after pro Russian separatists seized control in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place since 5September, although hundreds of people have been killed since then.

Fears of a return to full-scale conflict were raised after the separatists held elections on Sunday in defiance of Ukraine's government and Western
countries.

Russia has recognised the vote which led to separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko, 38, being sworn in as head of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic.

Igor Plotnitsky, a 50-year-old ex-Soviet army officer, was declared head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, further to the east.
Ukraine crisis: Heavy bombardment in rebel-held Donetsk Ukraine crisis: Heavy bombardment in
rebel-held Donetsk Reviewed by Idowu Wasiu on 07:52:00 Rating: 5

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