(VOVworld) – The Kiev government on Monday began a special military campaign to liberate the buildings and runways of the Donetsk International Airport occupied by supporters of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic one day after Ukraine’s presidential election.

Ukrainian helicopter gunships mounted an attack on the rebel-held international airport terminal at Donetsk on Monday. (Photo: Reuteurs)

Colonel Aleksey Dmitrashkovsky said an air strike began at 1 p.m. after the Donetsk self-defense forces did not comply with an ultimatum to lay down their arms. Government aircraft fired on stations of the anti-government forces and destroyed an anti-aircraft gun. The rebels withdrew toward suburban areas where clashes continued. Neither side has reported the number of casualties, but the Ukrainian army insists that the assault did not target unarmed civilians.