Article

2014-08-15 Europe

Rebel Forces Unravel as Ukraine Military Cuts Off key Stronghold

[An Nahar] Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine suffered dramatic setbacks Thursday as top military chiefs quit and Ukraine's forces pummeled their strongholds, cutting off a major center from the Russian border.

Kiev's advance came as a massive Russian "humanitarian" convoy parked up close to the frontier, with doubts still swirling over whether the trucks would be allowed to cross.

The separatist leadership showed signs of unraveling following four months of fighting that have left more than 2,000 dead and many residents in the region without power or running water, and with dwindling food supplies.

The rebels said their main military chief, Igor Strelkov, had resigned while the rebel commander in the second-biggest insurgent stronghold of Lugansk, Valery Bolotov, told Russian television he was "temporarily" stepping down because of earlier injuries.

The announcements came after Ukraine's military said it had completely surrounded Lugansk, cutting all links to the border with Russia, which Kiev believes has been supplying the insurgents with weapons.

Intense shelling on Lugansk and the main insurgen bastion of Donetsk left more than 25 people dead, while Ukrainian forces reported nine troops dead and 18 injured over the past day.

The Russian foreign ministry on Thursday called for all sides to accept an "urgent" ceasefire, saying the situation in the east was "extremely serious".

Russia's convoy of nearly 300 white-tarpaulin-covered lorries meanwhile halted Thursday near the town of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) from eastern Ukraine, Russian media reported.

Posted by Fred 2014-08-15 00:00|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top

#1 Putin can now invade for humanitarian reasons.

Posted by borgboy 2014-08-15 04:00|| 2014-08-15 04:00|| Front Page Top

#2 Russia'sconvoy of nearly 300 white-tarpaulin-covered lorries

Pre-positioned logistic train for invading Russian forces. Nothing to do with Ukrainian aid. Any bets ?

Posted by Besoeker 2014-08-15 07:53|| 2014-08-15 07:53|| Front Page Top

#3 I see now on Drudge, the Ukrains have destroyed several Russian vehicles that crossed the border.

Posted by Mugsy Glink 2014-08-15 11:22|| 2014-08-15 11:22|| Front Page Top

#4 Mugsy Glink's story: Ukraine Says It Destroyed Part of Armed Convoy From Russia.

Posted by trailing wife 2014-08-15 11:40|| 2014-08-15 11:40|| Front Page Top

#5 Mugsy, the Nazis destroyed a great portion of Russia and Russians, and then...

Posted by borgboy 2014-08-15 17:54|| 2014-08-15 17:54|| Front Page Top

#6 IMO it is fortunate for Ukraine that Vlad has a bigger agenda in mind than simply retaking the Crimea andor Ukraine proper.

Vlad's focii is the very real EXISTENTIAL ISLAMIST THREAT both to Russia + [Russian-controlled/dominated] proposed EURASIAN CUSTOMS UNION.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2014-08-15 21:48|| 2014-08-15 21:48|| Front Page Top

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