The air strikes against the separatists in control of Donetsk airport appeared to be the most visible military operation since Ukraine started a crackdown on insurgents. Many flights to and from Donetsk were delayed or cancelled and access to the airport was blocked.
Vladislav Seleznyov, a spokesman for Kiev's ‘anti-terrorist operation,’ wrote on Facebook that the military had given an ultimatum to the rebels to surrender. According to him, the gunmen didn't comply and the military launched an air strike.
An Associated Press journalist saw several vehicles carrying heavily armed separatists arrive near the airport. It was followed by several trucks full of reinforcements. Denis Pushilin, a separatist leader in Donetsk, said they had sent their fighters to the airport after some of their men were detained. According to media reports, one person was killed and two others wounded in the gunbattle.