Separatists claim advances in eastern Ukraine

Pro-Russian separatists claimed Saturday that they had
opened up a supply line between the besieged eastern Ukraine areas of
Donetsk and Luhansk, dpa reported.
Their next aim in fighting with Ukrainian government forces is to
break the army blockade of the city of Luhansk, separatist leader
Andrei Sakhartshenko told Russia's Interfax news agency.
Residents in Donetsk city reported heavy fire in numerous areas of
the metropolis of 1 million people.
Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council reported from Kiev
that the military operations would continue for some time because the
taking of areas held by separatists could not be accomplished in a
few days.