By Chris CovertRantburg.com
As elements of the Ukrainian Army slowly tightens the ring around Donetsk, Russian nationalist forces have taken a key settlement near the opening of the ring, while Ukrainian forces have taken a key area of Lugansk, according to reports which appeared in the online edition of Voice of Sevastopol.
The heaviest fighting in the Ukrainian war against Russian nationalists continue to be in the area of Krasnii Luch where several Ukrainian military units have been attempting to close the ring surrounding the city of Donetsk.
Already Ukrainian Army units are shelling the city and its suburbs. Reports of casualties indicate Ukrainian artillery fire is being confined to industrial areas and not residential areas. That said, between five and dozens of civilians have been killed or wounded since the shelling began 30 hours ago.
Russian nationalist forces in the region claim to have four large Ukrainian military formations surrounded and unable to breakout. The units were identified as the Ukrainian 24th and 30th Mechanized Brigades and the 51st and 95th Brigades. Those forces are pinned down near Miusinsk.
According to report those formations attempted to take Miusinsk by coup after a long and rapid approach march of 400 kilometers. Russian nationalist forces say 20 Ukrainian soldiers have died in that battle. Russian nationalists claim to have lost two.
Miusinsk is the key area Russian militia now hold.
Reports are that a heavy firefight was taking place in the vicinities of Yasinovataya and Alchevsk, which are about 15 kilometers north of Krasnii Luch. Civilians may have died in the fighting.
Chris Covert writes news for Rantburg.com