Renewed fighting in Ukraine shows no sign of slowing down

World Today

The village of Nikishyne, in eastern Ukraine, has been reduced to rubble due to fighting from pro-independence rebels and Ukrainian troops. CCTV’s Kate Parkinson reported this story from Donetsk.

Fighting between the rebels and Ukrainian military has taken place in the city for months. In the past few days, the rebels forced Kiev’s forces to retreat. One of Ukraine’s volunteer fighters called Nikishyne their Stalingrad — with battles taking place on every street and every house.

While Nikishyne is a small village, the rebel victory is significant as they push forward with their offensive.

The rebels were upbeat, even with news that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called for urgent international military assistance, and the United States may be considering sending weapons does not concern them.

“It’s thanks to Poroshenko that we have so many trophies. If they give them assistance, well thanks to the Americans as well… we’ll be even better equipped! Morale is also very important… Napoleon said that morale is ten times more important than anything else. We will fight… we have no other choice. We are fighting for our homeland,” a rebel fighter named Boroda, who did not give a full name, said.

As the rebels continue to push forward, their leaders announced a mass mobilization aimed at boosting fighter numbers to 100,000, as the offensive is showed no sign of slowing down.

Hopes of defusing the conflict are distant than ever now that peace talks have collapsed and both sides are boosting their troop numbers and the threat of a proxy war being fought here between the U.S. and Russia is looming large.


Jorge Benitez of NATOSource discusses US aid to Ukraine

CCTV America interviewed Jorge Benitez, director of NATOSource and a senior fellow for transatlantic security at the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security at the Atlantic Council about the renewed fighting in eastern Ukraine.

Jorge Benitez of NATOSource discusses US aid to Ukraine

CCTV America interviewed Jorge Benitez, director of NATOSource and a senior fellow for transatlantic security at the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security at the Atlantic Council about the renewed fighting in eastern Ukraine.