(9 Oct 2014) Defence officials in Ukraine said Thursday there has been no letup in efforts by pro-Russia separatist fighters in the east to
capture the airport in the main rebel-held city of Donetsk.
Security spokesman Andriy Lysenko told a news conference in Kiev that rebels continued to violate last month's cease-fire deal between the separatists and government troops, by launching attacks on Donetsk as well as around the towns of Debaltseve and Schastye.
Over the past 24 hours one Ukrainian soldier was killed and four wounded, Lysenko said.
Donetsk airport, the focus of much of the fighting, has no immediate tactical significance for separatist forces devoid of any air power.
However, the government's hold on the facility gives it a strategic position to attack rebel positions in the city
Lysenko also said that pro-Russian rebels have been stealing coal, metal and vehicles from Ukraine and sending it to Russia.
He said that the monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe have "witnessed coal transportation from the Luhansk region to the Russian Federation."
Lysenko added that Russian troops were moving away from the frontline, but were due to be replaced by rebels from Donetsk and Luhansk, who have undergone training in Russian military camps in Rostov-on-Don.

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