Ukraine reclaims airport in the eastern city of Donetsk

Donetsk, Ukraine: Ukraine said on Tuesday it had recaptured the airport in the eastern city of Donetsk after a day of air strikes and fierce gunbattles with pro-Moscow separatist militants that left dozens of people dead.

The battle for the main transport hub in the industrial heartland erupted on Monday just hours after president-elect Petro Poroshenko vowed to take a tough stand against the “terrorists”.

“The airport is under our full control. The enemy suffered heavy losses. We have none,” interior minister Arsen Avakov said. He said the military was continuing its operation.

Donetsk mayor Oleksandr Lukyanchenko said two civilians and 38 combatants had died and another 31 were wounded, including Russians and possibly Chechens.

An AFP correspondent reported seeing body parts and blood near a bullet-riddled truck on the airport road, where makeshift blockades had been set up with dumper trucks.

No talks: Poroshenko

Ukraine’s newly elected President Petro Poroshenko said Ukraine would press on with its offensive against insurgents in the east, and said there would be “no talks.”

“Their goal is to turn Donbass (east Ukraine) into Somalia,” Mr Poroshenko said.

End the violence: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Ukraine to end its “punitive” operation in the rebel-held east and for talks between Kiev and the insurgents, after Ukraine regained Donetsk.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Kiev of using the military against civilians.