Ukraine, pro-Russian rebels both claim to control Donetsk airport after intense fighting

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DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian government troops have been fighting pitched battles for control of Donetsk airport.

The airport has been reduced to a hulking wreck by months of heavy fighting. It's been the center of hostilities due to its symbolic importance and strategic location on the edge of the main rebel-controlled city.

The rebels say they have fully seized the airport, but Ukrainian officials reject the claim. They say Ukrainian troops are still holding out in the wreckage.

The military says three Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and 66 wounded in the past 24 hours, but he would not say how many of those casualties occurred at the airport.

Residential areas nearby have been caught in intensive crossfire. A shell hit a hospital in the city of Donetsk today, blowing out windows but causing no deaths. All the patients were evacuated to other hospitals.

The U.N. estimates more than 4,700 people have been killed in the fighting in eastern Ukraine since April.

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138-c-21-(Lynn Berry, AP correspondent)-"has been fierce"-AP correspondent Lynn Berry reports that after days of intense fighting, Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine claim they've again seized control of Donetsk airport. ((Donetsk is pronounced dahn-YEHTSK')) (19 Jan 2015)

<<CUT *138 (01/19/15)££ 00:21 "has been fierce"

139-c-21-(Lynn Berry, AP correspondent)-"route with Russia"-AP correspondent Lynn Berry reports the city of Donetsk was shaken by heavy artillery fire as the airport battle raged. ((Donetsk is pronounced dahn-YEHTSK')) (19 Jan 2015)

<<CUT *139 (01/19/15)££ 00:21 "route with Russia"

140-c-16-(Lynn Berry, AP correspondent)-"easing the sanctions"-AP correspondent Lynn Berry reports that in the current climate Europe isn't about to ease sanctions on Russia. ((Donetsk is pronounced dahn-YEHTSK')) (19 Jan 2015)

<<CUT *140 (01/19/15)££ 00:16 "easing the sanctions"

137-r-06-(Sound of heavy gunfire aimed at suspected rebel positions, near the Donetsk airport)--This is sound of Ukrainian Army troops firing at suspected rebel positions near the Donetsk airport.((Donetsk is pronounced dahn-YEHTSK')) COURTESY: Ukraine's Channel 5 ((mandatory on-air credit)) (19 Jan 2015)

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APPHOTO LON120: A view of the damaged Hospital N 3, after it was hit by Ukrainian Army artillery in Kalininsky district, in Donetsk, Ukraine. Monday, Jan. 19, 2015. The separatist stronghold, Donetsk, was shaken by intense outgoing and incoming artillery fire on Sunday as a bitter battle raged for control over the city's airport. Streets in the city, which was home to 1 million people before unrest erupted in spring, were completely deserted and the windows of apartments in the center rattled from incessant rocket and mortar fire. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo) (19 Jan 2015)

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APPHOTO LON126: A woman holds a child in the basement of Hospital N 3, after it was hit by Ukrainian Army artillery in Kalininsky district, in Donetsk, Ukraine. Monday, Jan. 19, 2015. The separatist stronghold, Donetsk, was shaken by intense outgoing and incoming artillery fire on Sunday as a bitter battle raged for control over the city's airport. Streets in the city, which was home to 1 million people before unrest erupted in spring, were completely deserted and the windows of apartments in the center rattled from incessant rocket and mortar fire. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo) (19 Jan 2015)

<<APPHOTO LON126 (01/19/15)££

APPHOTO LON122: A woman sweeps up the debris in Hospital N 3, after it was hit by Ukrainian Army artillery in Kalininsky district, in Donetsk, Ukraine. Monday, Jan. 19, 2015. The separatist stronghold, Donetsk, was shaken by intense outgoing and incoming artillery fire on Sunday as a bitter battle raged for control over the city's airport. Streets in the city, which was home to 1 million people before unrest erupted in spring, were completely deserted and the windows of apartments in the center rattled from incessant rocket and mortar fire. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo) (19 Jan 2015)

<<APPHOTO LON122 (01/19/15)££