Ukraine Civil War News Updates -- August 21, 2014

A Ukrainian military convoy is seen in a field in Luhansk region August 21, 2014. Credit: REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Dozens Die In Ukraine In Street Battles, Donetsk Shelling -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Heavy shelling hit residential neighborhoods in Ukraine's rebel stronghold of Donetsk and government forces fought street battles in other towns on Wednesday as they sought to crush a four-month-old separatist rebellion.

The forces of the Western-backed Kiev government are steadily gaining the upper hand over the separatists in Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine and are tightening the noose around the main rebel bastions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Reuters reporters in Donetsk said mortar bombs had struck Chelyuskintsev Street in the north of the city, a few km (miles) from the frontline of the conflict, shattering the windows of several five-floor apartment buildings and shearing off the branches of trees and downing power lines.

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Ukraine Civil War News Updates -- August 21, 2014

As Ukraine Presses Military Offensive, The Facts Are Fuzzy -- NPR
Ukraine Suffers Heavy Losses in Counterattack by Pro-Russia Rebels -- Wall Street Journal
Ukraine claims upper hand against rebels in east -- AP
Street battles continue as Ukraine army attacks pro-Russian rebels -- Euronews
Ukrainian Troops Press Rebels in Their Eastern Strongholds -- NYT
Ukrainian government troops take over much of Luhansk -- AP
Dozens of residents die in Donetsk fighting -- Al Jazeera
Pro-Russian separatists shoot down Ukranian jet, hit two copters -- CNN
Militia Shoots Down Ukrainian Su-25 Attack Aircraft over Luhansk Region – Official -- RIA Novosti
‘Only’ American fighter within Kiev forces dies in battle in E. Ukraine -- RT
First Frenchmen Join Eastern Ukraine Independence Forces -- RIA Novosti
Russian Defense Ministry Denies Ukraine Reports of Alleged 'Capture' of Military Vehicle -- RIA Novosti
Ukraine Claims It Has Captured Russian Military Vehicles -- AFP
Kiev in U-turn over claim that 'Russian tanks, artillery and 1,200 fighters' had been deployed in Eastern Ukraine as evidence fails to materialise -- Daily Mail
Donetsk People’s Republic Militia Says Reserves Right to Destroy OSCE Drones -- RIA Novosti
‘I never saw people die before’: Injured girl shares horrors of Donetsk shelling (VIDEO) -- RT
Ukraine’s FM argues his country deserves western military backup no less than Iraq -- ITAR-TASS

As Ukraine forces gain in east, focus of German diplomacy shifts -- Reuters
Russian defense official denies Moscow has plans to intrude into southeast Ukraine -- ITAR-TASS
Moscow asks UN Security Council to adopt statement calling for ceasefire in Ukraine -- ITAR-TASS

Ukraine conflict: Red Cross instructs Russian aid convoy -- BBC
Ukraine customs checks start on Russian aid convoy -- BBC
Ukrainian Customs Inspecting First 4 Trucks Carrying Russian Humanitarian Aid -- RIA Novosti
Ukraine border guards begin checks on Russian aid trucks -- Reuters
Shoigu tells US defense secretary humanitarian aid for Ukraine not military intervention -- Kyiv Post
Over 60,000 Ukrainians Sheltered in Russian Temporary Accommodation Centers -- RIA Novosti

Ukraine Economy Minister Resigns, Cites Frustrations -- VOA
Billionaire Branson, fellow business leaders offer support to end violence in Ukraine -- RT
Branson, business leaders seek Ukraine solution -- CNN
Photographing Both Sides in Ukraine -- NYT