Yatseniuk orders to step up defense around Avdiyivka

Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has ordered his deputy Hennadiy Zubko to put Avdiyivka (Donetsk region) on the list of towns where the military operation is taking place, and ordered the army and police to bolster its defense.

"I am asking you to urgently put Avdiyivka on the list of populated areas where the anti-terrorist operation is carried out," Yatseniuk said while opening a government meeting on Wednesday.

The prime minister also ordered senior defense and interior officials to step up defense and security in Avdiyivka in order to protect civilians.

The target of the increased shelling of Avdiyivka is Europe's largest coke and chemical plant located in the town.