Ukraine unrest: Clash at Donetsk airport 'kills dozens'

At least 30 pro-Russia separatists have been killed during a gun battle against Ukrainian military.

14:16 27 May 2014

On Monday, pro-Russia separatists, who tried to take over Donetsk airport, clashed with Ukrainian armed forces leading to the death of at least 30 militants. BBC team near the airport confirmed that gunfire continued on Tuesday that may result to increased number of deaths. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian military spokesman said that they now have the control over the facility. 

 

The clash began after separatist militants tried to seize Sergei Prokofiev Donetsk airport in the early hours of the morning. Heavily armed Ukrainian armed troops responded quickly with air strikes and an assault. Militants’ attempt to take over the airport is intended to stop New President Petro Poroshenko from travelling there. The former foreign minister was formally declared as the new president on Monday after getting 54per cent of the votes. 

 

Commenting on Monday’s clash, he said: "The anti-terrorist operation cannot and should not last two or three months. It should and will last hours." He added that he intend to end the crisis by talking to Russia. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded by saying that Moscow was “open to dialogue.”