Fighting on at Donetsk Airport
DONETSK. May 26 (Interfax) - Replenishment for the militia has arrived at the Prokofyev Airport in Donetsk, where Ukrainian law enforcement personnel are carrying out a military operation.
"Battalion 'East' has departed to the Donetsk Airport as relief," the press service of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic told Interfax.
Mobile phone communication is not functioning in Donetsk. All educational establishments have been closed in the Kyivsky district where the airport is located.
A posting on the Donetsk People's Republic's Twitter blog said more explosions have gone off at the airport. "Donetsk. Airport. Two powerful explosions have just gone off. An air strike has been delivered by attack aircraft," the posting says.
It confirmed that replenishment has been sent to the Donetsk Airport by the Donetsk People's Army.
"Fighting is on. Seven helicopters and four aircraft are involved in the operation against the republic," the posting says.
Meanwhile, a Rossiya 24 correspondent reported that, "the airport is under the Donetsk People's Republic's full control."
"About three hours ago, two fighter jets and three helicopters of the Ukrainian law enforcement services appeared in the sky above Donetsk. Attack aircraft were trying to destroy the so-called 'thermal towers," the correspondent reported from Donetsk.
The airport has been encircled, air services have been suspended. It is not known when the flights will be resumed, he said.
The Donetsk Airport suspended air services on Monday morning. "Air services were suspended at 7 a.m. When the flights will be restarted will be announced later," the airport said on its website on Monday. The airport management said this decision was connected with the emergence of armed representatives of the Donetsk People's Republic.