Ukraine Leader Orders Flag Raised In Rebel Stronghold After Overnight Army Successes

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday ordered the army to raise the national flag in the separatist stronghold of Slaviansk, eastern Ukraine, after hearing reports of military successes there, the presidential website said.

Earlier, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said a large number of pro-Russian separatists had fled the flashpoint city following sustained fire from Ukrainian forces.

Poroshenko’s website said the newly appointed head of the armed forces general staff had told him separatist fighters came under mortar fire as they tried to break through government forces’ lines. The separatists had lost one tank and other armored vehicles.

“The President gave the order … for the state flag to be raised on Slaviansk’s town council offices,” the website said, referring to one of the main buildings where the rebels had been based.

Source : Reuters