Ukrainian troops forced the rebels out of their stronghold of Slovyansk yesterday, suggesting the government may finally be making gains in the months-long battle against the insurgency.
Rebels from Slovyansk and other towns taken over by the Ukrainian army were seen today milling around central Donetsk, a major industrial city in the eastern region where the insurgents have proclaimed the separatist Donetsk People's Republic.
Igor Girkin, the defence minister of the separatist republic, said in a video interview with the Russian television channel Life News that he was in Donetsk and would lead the fight from there.