UKRAINE-CRISIS/KRAMATORSK RALLY East Ukraine city celebrates anniversary of liberation from rebel forces

Record ID: 148419

  • Title: UKRAINE-CRISIS/KRAMATORSK RALLY East Ukraine city celebrates anniversary of liberation from rebel forces
  • Date: 6th July 2015
  • Summary: CROWD MARCHING DOWN STREET, CARRYING LONG FABRIC IN COLOURS OF UKRAINIAN FLAG, SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM
  • Embargoed: 21st July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5Q3BYFKTISYLZ95GBD008YZLY
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Several thousand people took to the streets of the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk on Sunday (July 5) to celebrate the first anniversary of the liberation of their city and neighbouring Slaviansk by government forces from control of pro-Russian separatists.
    Flag bearing demonstrators rallied through the city and gathered at a central square, singing the Ukrainian national anthem and shouting pro-government chants.
    Pro-Russian separatists wrested control of the industrial city of Kramatorsk, that has a population of 200,000, and neighbouring city Slaviansk, in early April 2014, shortly after Russia's annexation of Crimea.
    The two cities, which formed a rebel stronghold north of the Donetsk region, became the site of battles between separatists and government forces.
    In July 5, 2014, after nearly three months of fighting Ukrainian forces surrounded the two cities and took back control of the area, forcing pro-Russian rebels to retreat toward Donetsk.
    Kramatorsk is the base of the Ukrainian government's anti-terrorist operation forces and also houses the regional government of Donetsk.
    In February this year, Kramatorsk came under rocket fire which left 15 people dead and wounded 63 others.
    Fighting between government troops and pro-Russian rebels has lessened since the signing of a ceasefire deal in February, but both sides accuse the other of violations and casualties from landmine explosions or direct shelling are reported almost daily.
    Differing interpretations of the February peace agreement signed in Minsk, Belarus, to end the fighting in Ukraine's eastern regions have left the conflict in limbo, with more than 6,500 people killed since it broke out in April last year.
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