Day of mourning

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko late Wednesday decreed a nationwide day of mourning, ordering that the Ukrainian flag be flown at half-mast and cancelling entertainment events.

The parliament at midday observed a minute’s silence.

Both Ukraine and Russia have offered to help with the search for survivors but the separatist authorities claimed that they had enough people and equipment.

Access to the mine was closed off by the rebels this morning, and psychologists at the scene were trying to comfort two women convinced that their miner husbands have died.

“We are trying to calm them down, we say that perhaps their husbands are still alive even though they don’t believe it,” said Oksana, one of the psychologists.

Kiev and rebels both report withdrawing equipment from the frontline as per the ceasefire agreement, the observation of which is closely watched by Western countries.

On Thursday, Kiev announced it was starting to pull back the notorious Grad rocket launchers as part of the next stage of the pullback spelt out in the deal struck in Minsk.

- © AFP, 2015

Read: Thousands line the streets of Moscow to pay last respects to slain Putin critic

Also: ‘He died for Russia’s future’: Tens of thousands march to honour Boris Nemtsov