Ukraine sends tanks to fight pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk after deadly shelling

• 17 minutes ago January 19, 2015 4:25AM

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UKRAINE has rushed tanks to the front lines in a counteroffensive against pro-Russian rebels fighting for control of Donetsk airport.

At least six people were killed, including four soldiers, houses were destroyed and electricity was cut for many homes and businesses as explosions repeatedly ripped through parts of the Donetsk region on Sunday.
Most of the blasts rang out from the area surrounding Donetsk airport northwest of the city as the army and rebels battled for control of the blackened and wrecked site hit by months of on-off clashes.

Under attack ... smoke rises over the Donetsk airport in eastern Ukraine. Picture: AP Source: AP

But some were also heard closer to the city centre, and Donetsk officials reported “massive damage to housing stock, infrastructure and communications of the city”.
Rebel officials reported at least two civilians killed, bringing the toll since Thursday to at least 23 dead, including 13 Ukrainian soldiers.

Heavily armed ... a pro-Russian rebel guards the road near airport. Picture: AP Source: AP

With rebels at one point claiming to control the airport, about 10 Ukrainian tanks rumbled across the snow toward the front lines on Saturday to reinforce soldiers desperately trying to defend it, local television showed.
The army’s aim was to push the rebels back and open a corridor to evacuate the wounded, they said, with the insurgents having earlier unleashed a barrage of heavy artillery fire at the airport, including from at least one tank.

Rolling in ... a Ukrainian Army tank rides in the Donetsk region. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Intense clashes resulted throughout Saturday night and into Sunday, and residents of the north-western area of the city said neighbourhoods had also been hit by shelling.
“Ukrainian troops received the order and massively opened fire against known separatist positions,” Yuri Biryukov, an adviser to Ukraine’s president located near the front line, wrote on his Facebook page.

Aftermath ... a building destroyed during shellings between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Public transport shut down and stores closed in parts of the city on Sunday.
“All night, shells flew over our house,” said Margarita, 24, a resident of the city’s northwest.
“This morning windows broke from the trembling — very scary.”

Fierce fighting ... a Ukrainian Right Sector battalion volunteer fires a machine gun at pro-Russian separatists near the Donetsk airport. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Another resident a couple kilometres from the airport said a children’s hospital had been damaged.
The military confirmed launching an operation to push out the rebels and spoke of difficult and intense fighting, while on Sunday it said four more soldiers had been killed and 32 wounded.