Kiev reported its forces have retaken the city of Slavyansk, the stronghold of pro-Russian separatists east of Ukraine, with the country’s flag being hoisted once again over the city municipality.
Two months of bloody clashes have inflicted severe damages to this city and many of the inhabitants have fled.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said his forces have yet to reach final victory and the liberation of Slavyansk from an armed group is of symbolic importance. This is a struggle to maintain all of Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty, he continued, adding some separatists are saying Putin betrayed them.