Ukraine Civil War News Updates -- August 4, 2014

Ukraine Crisis: Army 'Heading For Victory' - Defence Minister -- BBC

Ukraine's defence minister has said his forces are gaining ground significantly against rebels in the country's east.

Valeriy Heletey told the BBC there would be victory "very soon".

He blamed the rebels for the difficulties faced by international experts in getting access to the MH17 crash site.

His remarks came as civilians in the east prepare for a siege as government forces close in on the rebel-held cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Residents are stockpiling food and supplies and are sleeping in basements, with reports suggesting Luhansk is virtually surrounded and without power.

At least nine civilians were reported killed in Donetsk and Luhansk on Saturday.

Read more ....

BBC

Ukraine Civil War News Updates -- August 4, 2014

Ukraine Defense Minister Confident of Victory ‘Very Soon’ -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Ukraine confident about victory over separatists "very soon" -- Standartnews.com
Kiev says it recaptures rail hub in east Ukraine, five soldiers killed -- Reuters
Ukrainian Special Forces in Luhansk Region Begin Surrender Negotiations – Militia -- RIA Novosti
Donetsk Militia Says Ukrainian Su-25 Fighter Plane Shot Down -- RIA Novosti
Ukrainian Troops Moving Tochka-U Missile Launchers to Donetsk - Militia -- RIA Novosti
Ukrainian forces on outskirts of rebel-held Donetsk -- AP
Ukrainian military urges Donetsk residents to evacuate, clearing way for advance -- Washington Post
Ukraine urges rebels to let civilians leave besieged cities -- AFP
Separatist Cadre Hopes for a Reprise in Ukraine -- NYT

Ukraine plans to mirror Western sanctions on Russia -- RT
Ukraine hasn't drafted blacklist of Russian companies for sanctions yet -- Interfax - Ukraine
Kiev to Blacklist Russian Culture Figures -- Moscow Times
Russia Scoffs At Sanctions, But Economy Feeling The Pain -- Forbes

Hundreds of Ukraine troops cross into Russia -- Al Jazeera
Ukrainian troops cross into Russia to avoid fighting, talks underway -- Reuters
Many Ukraine soldiers cross into Russia amid shelling -- BBC
Ukrainians fighting each other: Kiev orders the impossible — Lavrov -- ITAR-TASS
Some 180 out of 438 military who fled to Russia return to Ukraine -- ITAR TASS

Ukraine crisis: Russia boosts air force near border -- BBC
Russia holds huge military exercises near Ukraine border -- The Guardian
Russia 'staging military exercises near Ukraine' -- The Telegraph
Russian war games get under way, unnerving Ukraine -- Fred Weir, CSM