Clashes continue outside Ukraine’s Donetsk airport

(Vatican Radio) Witnesses say pro-Russian-seperatists and Ukrainian government troops continue battles for control of Donetsk airport, while residential  areas have been caught in intensive crossfire.

The clashes in eastern Ukraine come amid allegations that fresh troops have arrived from neighboring Russia to support the rebels. 

Listen to Stefan Bos’ report:

Despite Kiev's earlier claims of victory, fighting rages around the international airport on the edge of the rebel controlled city of Donetsk. Though the airport was reduced to a wreck by months of fighting, its loss would be a major blow to Ukrainian national pride, commentators said. 

Kiev claims its 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. On Monday, the rebels allegedly blew up part of the new terminal.

Ukraine's central government says its troops are under pressure as at least 700 additional Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine to support the separatists. Military spokesman Andriy Lysenko has accused Russia is breaking a ceasefire agreement signed in Minsk, Belarus. 

"The Russian side cancelled its signature from the joint document detailing the ceasefire schedule," he told reporters. "The agreement calls on the Russians to come to the table and guarantee a truce from today."    

RUSSIA ATTEMPT

Russia has denied wrongdoing with its military spokesman Andrey Kozlov blaming "a Ukrainian military group of making an attempt to recapture the [Donetsk] airport." He said these clashes led to "unjustified victims among civilians in Donetsk and Horlivka" and called it "without doubt a violation of the Minsk agreement."    

Dozens of people, including soldiers, are believed to have died since last week. Ukrainian officials say at least three Ukrainian servicemen were killed and 66 wounded in the previous days alone. It wasn't clear how many of those casualties occurred at the airport. 

Since April last year, more than 4,800 people have died in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. 

Amid renewed fighting European Union foreign ministers have ruled out any easing of the sanctions imposed on Russia for its actions in Ukraine, where it also annexed the Crimean Peninsula. 

Neighboring countries are concerned Russia will extend its military reach beyond Ukraine. Lithuania has even printed a booklet warning its citizens how to prepare for a foreign invasion.