Poroshenko hails Sloviansk victory as turning point

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hailed his troops' victory over the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk as a turning point in the conflict that has been plaguing the nation for the past eight months.

According to the BBC, Poroshenko on Tuesday said that although it is not a complete victory yet it has a huge symbolic importance. Government forces have made significant advances and reclaimed some territories after launching an attack against the rebels in the two regional capitals of Donetsk and Luhansk since the violation of ceasefire.

The victory over Sloviansk is significant because it was the military centre of the self-declared People's Republic of Donetsk and also the epicenter of the pro-Russian uprising. Therefore, it is also being read as the most significant advance by the government of Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict, the report added.

After a night-long exchange of fire from both sides, the rebels abandoned its stronghold on Saturday. Reportedly, Ukrainian government has confirmed the presence of the government forces in the city and has promised that humanitarian aid will be delivered soon.