Explosions have now been confirmed near Mariupol, reports a number of western journalists including Will Vernon and Fergal Keane of BBC, Roland Oliphant of the Telegraph, and Shaun Walker of The Guardian. The press service of the DNR has also stated that they are storming the city.
Recall that yesterday Russia’s ambassador to the OSCE anticipated the “liberation” of the city by Russian-backed forces, falsely stating that the region was 90% “ethnic Russian” and that this would be “natural.” (the region is actually 38% Russian)
Sounds of shelling audible in #Mariupol
— Will Vernon (@BBCWillVernon) September 6, 2014
#Ukraine Definitely shelling outside Mariupol. Hear it loud and clear now.
— Fergal Keane (@fergalkeane47) September 6, 2014
#Ukraine shelling started at approx 2235 local and is continuing
— Fergal Keane (@fergalkeane47) September 6, 2014
Boom boom boom, audible from Mariupol centre
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) September 6, 2014
Hmm so there are some pretty loud booms audible in central Mariupol… Ceasefire seeming a little less stable.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) September 6, 2014
#mariupol. Not a long ceasefire.Strong sound of shelling. Near East check-point.
— Nataliya Gumenyuk (@ngumenyuk) September 6, 2014
Heavy continuous shelling heard from the frontline between #Mariupol and #Novoazovsk.
— John Wendle (@johnwendle) September 6, 2014
Mariupol now, via @JuMistress pic.twitter.com/OggAFothbA
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) September 6, 2014
NOW: Shelling can be heard on the eastern outskirts of #Mariupol. Cease fire is obviously over now.
— Daria Sipigina (@DariaSipigina) September 6, 2014
@BBCWillVernon: Saw flashes and heard booms as shells landing on eastern edge of #Mariupol #Ukraine
— Will Vernon (@BBCWillVernon) September 6, 2014
Shelling — "as loud as ever" — is coming from Mariupol port area, according to my colleague Silver @meikar, who is there.
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) September 6, 2014
Listening to DNR radio. Presenters almost chuckle as they announce what they "believe to be storming of Mariupol …" pic.twitter.com/3RAE6v60KO
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) September 6, 2014
Eastern checkpoint hit. Tank just went straight into town don't know whose
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) September 6, 2014
Those were Ukrainian tanks pulling back into city
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) September 6, 2014
Вооруженные Силы Новороссии берут Мариуполь.
— ДНР Новороссия (@press_dnr) September 6, 2014
Translation: “Armed Forces of New Russia taking Mariupol.”
The official Donetsk rebel account @press_dnr says they're "taking Mariupol" #ceasefire (I'm still sceptical they'll come into town tonight)
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) September 6, 2014
Eastern checkpoint and nearby petrol station in flames. Local guess artillery, not mortars or grad.
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) September 6, 2014
Fire towards #Mariupol is coming from Sakhanka halfway to #novoazovsk. So far strongest fire close to city.In the centre people walk
— Nataliya Gumenyuk (@ngumenyuk) September 6, 2014
Journos set off to Mariupol E checkpoint got across bridge by Azovstal, saw cars shot up – unclear by who – people dying from bullet wounds.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) September 6, 2014
As far as I understand from what officials there have said, the @press_dnr account is official. So DNR officially admits breaking ceasefire.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) September 6, 2014
Doublespeak "@Liveuamap: Russian media: DNR claims that Ukrainian forces broke ceasefire. DNR media: We are taking Mariupol now"
— Mat Babiak (@MatBabiak) September 6, 2014
RIA quotes DPR sources as saying that the Ukrainians have seized Telmanovo near RU border. Too weird to believe. http://t.co/3YPQV5PTGV
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) September 6, 2014
Didnt take them long to have a try MT @Henry_Langston: DNR commander claims there are plans to take Mariupol "at some point in the future"
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) September 6, 2014
After rebels @press_dnr tweet they're "taking Mariupol," leader Zakharchenko quoted as saying ceasefire's not being observed. Well, yeah
— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) September 6, 2014
Minister of Internal Affair #Avakov says #Mariupol was shelled w #Grad BM-21 16times tonight http://t.co/1CKbYUVTUw pic.twitter.com/IWjDOstOcE
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) September 6, 2014
Aaaaand one more volley of something or other explosive. Bedtime
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) September 6, 2014
