First Ukrainian troops broke out of militants' encirclement in Ilovaisk – Avakov
The first team of Ukrainian soldiers encircled by the militants in Ilovaisk, the Donetsk region, have managed to break out.
"Our first troops from the Ilovaisk group have reached the National Guard brigade's strongpoint in the town of Komsomolske. Altogether there are 28 persons from battalions of Interior Ministry Peacekeeper (14), Kherson (3) and Dnipro-1 (11). It was good idea to hold the border the whole night! We're waiting for other guys," the Interior Ministry's press service quoted minister Arsen Avakov as saying on Saturday.
According to morning reports, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko reached an agreement with the militants to break out encircled Donbas battalion soldiers and other military in Ilovaisk, the press service of Donbas volunteer battalion reported.
Prior the militants presented ATO forces trapped in Ilovaisk with an ultimatum to lay down arms by 0600 a.m. on Saturday morning. If not the militants threatened to start shelling them with Grad rocket launchers.