adminDONETSK – Fighting is raging on the western outskirts of Donetsk as the advancing Ukrainian army tries to seize control of the pro-Russian separatists’ stronghold.In danger of being encircled, the separatists renewed their calls for Russia to send troops to their aid. They have been confiscating vehicles and food from residents and businesses. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian military, Alexei Dmitrashkovsky, told The Associated Press that government soldiers were fighting on Sunday to hold positions they had taken on the edge of Donetsk, but were meeting resistance.
In the part of the city closest to the fighting, an artillery shell hit a school overnight and set off a fire, but no one was reported hurt. The sound of gunfire and explosions was heard just to the west.
Meanwhile, the US Senate on Thursday unanimously approved President Barack Obama’s choice of John Tefft to be the next American ambassador to Russia, filling a post that had been vacant since February.
Tefft is a former envy to Ukraine under Obama, and to Georgia and Lithuania under Republican President George W Bush. Tefft will go to Moscow as US-Russia ties are severely strained over Washington’s sanctions on Russia due to its support for rebels in eastern Ukraine.- AP
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