Ukraine cease-fire unravels: rebels kill 10 near Donetsk airport

Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine advanced Wednesday on the government-held airport in Donetsk, pressing to seize the key transportation hub even as the two sides bargained over a troop pullout under a much-violated truce. Fighting for the airport has raged for months as the insurgents have tried to dislodge the government forces using it to shell rebel positions in Donetsk, the largest rebel-held city. Ten people were killed in the crossfire Wednesday in residential areas near the airport, including some teachers and parents showing up for the first day of school.

Russia maintains its ability to destabilise Ukraine..and remains in breach of international law.

Jens Stoltenberg, the new NATO chief

Civilian and military casualties have continued to rise in eastern Ukraine despite a cease-fire Sept. 5 and a second agreement Sept. 20 that spelled out how to create a buffer zone. While that helped to enforce the cease-fire in areas where Ukrainians troops and rebels chose to retreat, non-stop fighting has continued at the airport and other strategic locations.

We hope that Western capitals will not keep silent about these outrageous facts.

Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

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