Ukraine Forces Recapture of Rebel Stronghold

(Vatican Radio) Ukraine says it has retaken control over a key rebel stronghold in the eastern city of Slovyansk amid heavy fighting in which at least 13 soldiers and others died  in the region since Friday.

Listen to Stefan Bos’ report:

Ukrainian troops fired heavy artillery from a field near the eastern city of Slovyansk, forcing  pro-Russian separatists to withdraw.  

Officials on both sides say rebels, who seized Slovyansk in April, are fleeing this former rebel stronghold.  

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has ordered the invading army to raise the national flag over government buildings in this city of 130,000 people.  

Rebels reportedly also leave all other towns they had been holding. They are heading to the main city of Donetsk, where talks are expected talks between rebels and the government. 

PEACE STILL POSSIBLE

President Pororshenko said it's still not too late for peace. "According to the decision which the Ukrainian security and defense council will adopt today, a ceasefire will be offered as the start of the implementation of the peace plan of the president of Ukraine," he said.         

For residents in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk a long lasting ceasefire can't come soon. Pensioner Valentyna was among those surveying the damage. 

“What have they done? How can we live? Our pension hasn’t been paid for three months. Or child benefit," she explained. 

"I don’t know how we can manage to live on water only. We see no meat or bread,” the pensioner said.  

DEATH TOLL MOUNTING

The death toll is mounting too. More than a dozen Ukrainian soldiers and others were killed since Friday. And this week Russian veteran cameraman Anatoly Klyan became the 5th journalist to die in the conflict that has claimed hundreds of lives. 

The NATO military alliance has accused Russia of destabilising the eastern part of Ukraine by sending weapons and other military equipment to the separatists, charges Moscow denies.

Thousands of Russian troops remain near Ukraine's border. 

European Union leaders have warned they were ready to impose further sanctions on Russia unless peace is restored in the troubled region.