Ukrainian army deploys reserves at Donetsk airport, runway blasted
KYIV/MOSCOW. Jan 20 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian government forces fighting at Donetsk airport have received additional reserves and ammunition, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has said.
"Fighting for the airport continues," it said on its website on Tuesday evening.
Members of the militia "have blown up the runway," it added.
Earlier on Tuesday, the DPR army deputy commander Eduard Basurin claimed that "Pisky and Donetsk airport are under the DPR militia's control."
The past 24 hours saw the Ukrainian army continually attacking the militia positions, he said. "All daytime and nighttime attacks have been fought off," he said.
"As a result of the ongoing fight more than 120 Ukrainian troops have been killed in the past 24 hours. Armor losses amounted to six tanks, five infantry fighting vehicles and armored carriers," Basurin said.
"Today the Ukrainian government throws untrained, recently mobilized troops into the storming of the airport, who do not even possess the basis skills in handling weapons, let alone warfare techniques," he said.
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