Ukraine’s Armed Forces fire at Donetsk Airport

Following a Ukrainian president’s statement on Kiev readiness to regain the Donetsk Airport from the Donbass self-defense forces, Kiev security forces have started firing at the airport.

“Combat actions resumed in the area of the Donetsk Airport late in the evening yesterday. Kiev security forces shelled at the airport using automatic rocket launchers, AT missiles, tanks, armored vehicles and 82mm and 120mm mortars. The ceasefire was breached over 20 times,” the Ministry of Defense of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) reported.

According to the source, the Kiev’s threat to undermine the peace process triggered the provocations. “This time the provocations followed Ukraine president’s statements to break the peace process in Donbass despite his commitments to the world leaders,” the DPR Defense Ministry said.

As EADaily reported earlier,  on May 12 President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said the Donetsk Airport that is under control of the DPR self-defense forces will be regained. Denis Pushilin, the DPR envoy to the Minsk talks, said Poroshenko’s statement directly violates the Minsk agreements and calls for military actions.

At a briefing on May 12 in Sochi, US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned Poroshenko’s inflammatory rhetoric and warned him against military actions, particularly, against any attempts to return the Donetsk Airport by force.

"I have not seen the context, but if the President Poroshenko advocates to start power operation, we would have asked him to think twice before taking such action," he said.