Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian government troops fought
pitched battles Monday for control of Donetsk airport, while residential areas
nearby were caught in intensive crossfire.
The airport, reduced to a hulking wreck by months of heavy
fighting, has been the epicenter of hostilities due to its symbolic importance
and strategic location on the edge of the main rebel-controlled city.
The airport has become a symbol of Ukrainian combat valor
and its loss would be a major blow to national pride.
The rebels say they have fully seized the airport in recent
fighting, but Ukrainian officials reject the claim. They say Ukrainian troops
are still holding out in the wreckage of the new terminal, a steel-and-glass
showcase for the UEFA Euro 2012 soccer championship hosted by Ukraine.
source: abc News
No comments:
Post a Comment