Ukraine Civil War News Updates -- July 30, 2014

Ukraine Conflict: Army Claims Strategic Town In Donetsk -- BBC

The Ukrainian army says it has seized a key town near the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, as fighting rages in the east.

Pro-Russia separatists were driven out of Avdiivka on Wednesday, the army said. The strategic town is near the airport and train station in Donetsk.

Heavy fighting around Donetsk has again prevented international experts from reaching the crash site of flight MH17.

Meanwhile, Russia said new sanctions were "destructive and short-sighted" and would lead to higher energy prices.

Almost two weeks after the Malaysia Airlines jet came down, international monitors were turned back to the city of Donetsk by separatist amid clashes in the area.

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Ukraine Civil War News Updates -- July 30, 2014

Kiev's bloody eastern Ukraine campaign LIVE UPDATES -- RT

Belarus to host Ukraine crisis talks -- The Guardian
Belarus to host Ukraine-Russia talks -- Reuters

Ukraine conflict: Army claims strategic town in Donetsk -- BBC
Ukraine army closes in on Donetsk -- Al Jazeera
Ukraine: fighting closes in on rebel-held Donetsk -- The Telegraph
Shells hit residential buildings, park as Kiev’s forces bombard Donetsk -- RT
Ukraine’s National Guard Shelling Residential Areas in Donetsk – Self-Defense Forces -- RIA Novosti
Ukraine: Shelling of rebel-held Donetsk takes toll on residents -- Euronews
Shells hit Donetsk city centre as civilians killed in east Ukraine fighting -- AP
Heavier weapons on both sides leading to more civilian deaths in Ukraine -- AP
More than 1,000 people killed in Ukraine conflict since April - UN -- Irish Times

Russian Troops, Equipment Continue To Mass Along Ukraine Border: Pentagon -- RTT
US Ambassador: Advanced Weapons on Russia-Ukraine Border -- VOA
Russia Sends More Missiles to Ukraine Separatists -- Military.com
Russia supplying air defense system to separatists: Pentagon -- Zee News
Pentagon: Defense system supplied to Ukraine similar to one that downed airliner -- The Hill

Kiev forces fire ballistic missiles into E. Ukraine – US media -- RT
Russia Concerned by Reports of Kiev Using Ballistic Missiles in Eastern Ukraine -- RIA Novosti

Heavy Fighting Prevents International Experts from Accessing MH17 Crash Site -- RIA Novosti
Observers Turned Back from MH17 Crash Site in Ukraine -- VOA
Ukraine official: Rebels lay mines near crash site -- AP
Ukraine claims rebels planted mines near MH17 site -- CNN

Russia Again Calls for Ukraine Talks to Stop Bloodshed – Lavrov -- RIA Novsoti
‘Situation atrocious’: Russian Red Cross says E. Ukraine faces humanitarian catastrophe -- RT
The Belarusians fighting on both sides of the Ukraine conflict -- The Guardian
Europe's Ground Zero: Fairy Tales and Fabrications in Eastern Ukraine -- Christian Neef, Spiegel Online
Paul Toohey meets the Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine — and discusses boxer Kostya Tszyu -- News.com.au