Ukrainian soldiers take up duties at Donetsk Airport, separatists give them Christmas presents

(6 Jan 2015) Ukrainian soldiers took up duties on Tuesday at the Donetsk Airport, scene of some of the fiercest fighting in eastern Ukraine. The 50 soldiers in a convoy of four trucks were provided safe passage to the airport by rebel forces, who gave them gifts in celebration of Orthodox Christmas. As part of a troop rotation, the same trucks returned carrying 49 Ukrainian soldiers, since one had been killed in battle a few days earlier. The rotation happened under the supervision of a joint commission of representatives from the Ukrainian and Russian army. Ukrainian soldiers were allowed to carry just one automatic gun each. Fighting in eastern Ukraine has continued despite a cease-fire reached in September as the two sides have failed to agree on a line of division to create a buffer zone. More than 4,700 people have been killed since April. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: