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Ukraine denies reports of insurgent airport takeover

Xinhua, January 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Ukrainian authorities on Friday denied reports from independence-seeking insurgents that the insurgents have taken control of the airport in the eastern city of Donetsk.

"The Donetsk airport is still under the control of the Ukrainian troops," the press service of the government's military operation said in a statement.

According to the statement, Ukrainian troops have repelled the insurgent offensive on the airport and since 8.00 p.m. local time (GMT 1800) Thursday, a "relative lull" has reigned in the conflict-torn facility.

The "Defense Ministry" of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic said that the insurgent forces have controlled the Donetsk airport.

Commenting on the report, Ukrainian army spokesman Leonid Matyukhin accused insurgents of spreading false information about fighting over the strategic facility.

"They (insurgents) have a different perception of what's going on, they live in some other world. You can't believe everything they say," Matyukhin told reporters.

Ukrainian troops took control of the airport in the insurgent-held city in July. Since then, the facility has been a flashpoint in the conflict that began in mid-April in 2014 and that has claimed more than 4,700 lives so far.

The defense of the airport is a strategic goal of the Ukrainian government forces, which enable Ukrainian troops to retain a presence on the outskirts of Donetsk, the largest city in the restive region. Endi