Ukrainian soldiers killed in rebel ambush

(Vatican Radio) Ukraine says at least 10 of its soldiers were killed by pro-Russian separatists near the site, where a Malaysian Airlines passenger plane was shot down last month. 

Despite the ongoing clashes, a team of international experts has begun working at the site, where they hope to recover more bodies of the nearly 300 victims and to investigate the wreckage.

With artillery fire clearly audible in the distance, some 70 Dutch and Australian forensic experts visited the crash site Friday in troubled eastern Ukraine, accompanied by monitors of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).  The experts managed to recover at least some human remains of those who died in the crash.      

EARLIER MISSION

They arrived at the site after a small group of OSCE observers on Thursday discovered a way to reach the area, despite ongoing battles.

“We reached the site shortly before two o’clock, stayed there until shortly after three o’clock and then returned back the same way we came without any incident,” said Alexander Hug, the OSCE's deputy head in Ukraine.

“[We] left rebel-held territory into government-held territory and then shortly before Donetsk returned back into rebel-held territory,” he added. 

Yet tensions remain high. Near the crash site, Ukrainian government forces battle their offensive against pro-Russia separatists. They approach the rebel-stronghold of Donetsk. 

YOUNG CHILDREN

Civilians are in the crossfire and many are fleeing the region. Sergei, his wife Maria and their two young children are among those who have fled the area. A few bags with personal belongings is all they have.

“We were living in constant fear. Imagine, bombs are falling and your windows shatter. And there are small children with you.  How can you live like this?” he said, his voice trembling with emotion. 

They fled the town of Shakhtarsk, where officials said Friday at least 10 Ukrainian soldiers were killed when their convoy was ambushed by pro-Russian rebels.

Thirteen more soldiers were unaccounted for after the attack, and the bodies of four more people were being examined to determine whether they were soldiers or rebels.

More than 1,500 people are believed to have died in the conflict which erupted in eastern Ukraine in April, after separatists declared independence from the new government in Kiev.

Listen to the report by Stefan Bos: