Saturday, September 20, 2014

Kiev’s bloody eastern Ukraine campaign LIVE UPDATES

Kiev’s bloody eastern Ukraine campaign LIVE UPDATES

Published time: April 15, 2014 14:19
Edited time: September 18, 2014 11:19
Black smoke ascends around the Donetsk's International Airport as shelling continues between pro-Russian forces and the Ukrainian army on September 14, 2014.(AFP Photo / Philippe Desmazes )
Black smoke ascends around the Donetsk's International Airport as shelling continues between pro-Russian forces and the Ukrainian army on September 14, 2014.(AFP Photo / Philippe Desmazes )
Kiev and rebel troops in eastern Ukraine on September 5 agreed a ceasefire, “all to all” prisoner of war exchange and humanitarian aid access to the area hit by months-long fierce fighting that has claimed the lives of over 2,500 people.

Saturday, September 20

19:54 GMT:
According to the UN, the number of Ukrainian refugees fleeing to foreign states – including Russia – to avoid the fighting is on the decrease.

A UN source told RIA Novosti that as of September 18, the number of Ukrainian refugees abroad was estimated at 341,000.

Over 800,000 Ukrainians have crossed into Russia in recent months, but people have started returning to their homes following a ceasefire announced between the militia and Kiev.
16:02 GMT:
Representatives of the self-defense forces in the Donetsk and Ukrainian security services have exchanged prisoners, in accordance with the '40 for 40' formula, the Prisoner Exchange Committee of the People's Republic of Donetsk said in a statement.

The previous exchange of prisoners between the sides in the eastern Ukrainian conflict followed a '73 for 73' formula.
08:26 GMT:
Detonations continue at the burning plant in Donetsk, where a powerful explosion occurred earlier on Saturday, reports RIA Novosti. Local residents said stored shells detonating from the heat are the most likely cause.
The initial explosion was so strong that the blast wave shattered windows in a house about 1 kilometer from the plant.
08:14 GMT:
08:09 GMT:
A powerful explosion was reported in Donetsk. City residents and correspondents on the ground tell of a huge cloud of smoke rising from the location of an explosives and ammunition factory.
Militia sources said the factory was hit by two missiles. No casualty report was immediately available.
04:49 GMT:
The third convoy of Russian humanitarian aid for eastern Ukraine has arrived in the war-torn city of Donetsk, reported Itar Tass. The convoy of around 200 vehicles is carrying some 2,000 tons of cereals, canned food, generators, medicine, warm clothes, and bottled water. Russia said it offered the Ukrainian border guards to check the vehicles on the border on several occasions, but they declined without citing any particular reason. On September 13 and on August 22 Russia delivered humanitarian aid to the city of Lugansk in eastern Ukraine. On both occasions Kiev refused to clear the cargoes and accused Russia of invading Ukraine.
00:10 GMT:
The signed memorandum consists of nine points, former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma told journalists following peace talks in Minsk, Belarus.

“The first one is stopping the use of weapons by both sides, the second is terminating new formations of units on military bases as of September 19. The third is banning the use of all types of weapons and offensive action,” Kuchma said.

Friday, September 19

23:41 GMT:
All foreign mercenaries must be withdrawn from eastern Ukraine by both sides of the conflict, the signed Minsk memorandum states, according to former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma.

“We have agreed on the withdrawal of all foreign mercenaries from both sides,”
Kuchma told RIA Novosti following talks in the Belarusian capital.
23:25 GMT:
Ukraine troops must pull back all heavy artillery by 15 kilometers from the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine, RIA Novosti cited former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma as saying.

Both sides also vowed to continue the exchange of prisoners.
23:01 GMT:
Kiev authorities and representatives of the self-proclaimed eastern Ukrainian republics have signed a final memorandum on a ceasefire and conflict resolution, RIA Novosti reports citing Lugansk People’s Republic representative Aleksey Karyakin.
The sides have signed a memorandum following peace talks in Minsk, Belarus. The agreement outlines a buffer zone of 30 km (18.6 miles) and bans all military aircraft from flying over part of eastern Ukrainian territory, except for the OSCE's aerial vehicles, former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma told RIA Novosti following the meeting.

The negotiations were also attended by Russia’s OSCE representatives.

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