Ukraine rebels close in on Donetsk airport

Rebels in eastern Ukraine appeared to be successfully closing in on the government-held airport in Donetsk Wednesday, a strategic victory for the pro-Russian separatists that further undermines a shaky cease-fire in the region. Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko told journalists in Kiev that the airport was still under control of government troops who were ‘brilliantly carrying out their duty’ and holding ground there. However, rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying that the rebels control 90 per cent of the airport, which has been the focus of the worst fighting in the region for weeks. ‘In two, or maximum three, days the Donetsk airport will come under our control,’ he said. While it was impossible to get within close range of the airport because of the ongoing fighting, an AP reporter in Donetsk saw that artillery fire hitting the airport was coming from government-held positions outside the city — an indication that the airport may no longer be under Kiev's control, according to AP.