Militia claims full control of Donetsk airport
MOSCOW/KYIV. Jan 19 (Interfax) - Militia forces have taken control of the entire territory of Donetsk airport, the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic claimed on Monday.
"As a result of an offensive provoked by Ukraine, we have occupied the entire territory of the airport," Alexander Zakharchenko told the joint press center of the DNP government and legislature on Monday.
He accused Ukraine of breaching the truce unilaterally. "Never before during this conflict have Donetsk, neighboring territories or Horlivka sustained strikes from heavy artillery as massive as those that we have sustained over the past 24 hours," he said.
"Our action is retaliatory," he added.
At the same time, the Ukrainian military denied that Ukrainian troops had surrendered their positions at the airport. They "are still holding their positions" while the militia forces "haven't moved forward one pace," spokesman Leonid Matyukhin told Interfax.
One of the Ukrainian soldiers who fought at the airport, Valery Lohinov, told Ukrainian television's Fifth Channel that militia forces had attacked one of the airport buildings but had been thrown back.
The Ukrainian military says the army forces deployed at the airport may receive reinforcements soon.
