Assault on Donetsk, Ukraine, airport resumes

DONETSK , Ukraine, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Ukrainian troops are holding the Donetsk airport despite renewed fighting, Ukrainian military spokesman Arseniy Lysenko said Monday.

He referred to "heavy fighting" in the assault on the airport, which began Saturday, "backed by Russian special forces." Lysenko added the pro-Russian rebels sustained "serious losses" through artillery, mortar and rocket fire as they attacked the two terminals of the airport.

The airport in suburban Donetsk has been the site of shelling for months.

The assault came as the Ukrainian government began a ban Monday on the travel of journalists to the front lines of the fighting. A statement from the press service of the government's anti-terrorist operations said there were indications pro-Russian separatists were "hunting" Ukrainian journalists. The Kyiv Post noted the restrictions applied to foreign journalists as well. Only journalists traveling in special groups, and escorted by soldiers, will be permitted in combat areas.

Media rights activists have called the move an attempt to censor news information.