Ukraine: Pro-Russian leaders resign, Ukrainian military closes in

Two commanders of the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have resigned from their positions as the Ukrainian military continues to bombard their positions, and has encircled their last two remaining strongholds.

Reuters reports that the most powerful of these commanders was Igor Strelkov, the defense minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. The Ukrainian government in Kiev has claimed that he is a Russian intelligence operative. A native of Donetsk will replace Strelkov. Reuters said that Strelkov used to live in a suburb of Moscow where he was known as Igor Girkin.

The deputy prime minister of the Donestk People's Republic said that Strelkov would still serve with the pro-Russian fighters in a less senior position. Strelkov was leading the separatist forces in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk.

The leader of the separatists in the city of Lugansk, Valery Bolotov, said he was injured and could no longer fulfill the responsibilities of his position adequately.

Reuters said that artillery shells landed closer to the separatist headquarters in Donetsk than ever before.

The BBC says that two different shopping centers were hit by artillery and rocket fire, and at least one civilian had been killed.

As the situation of the pro-Russian fighters grew more desperate, an aid convoy from Russia neared the Ukrainian border. Reuters said it was less than 15 miles away from a border outpost controlled by pro-Russian forces when it stopped for the day.

Ukraine has said that they will not allow the convoy into the country, fearing that it is actually carrying arms or soldiers.  The convoy is headed for the city of Lugansk, which is nearly out of food and water as a result of the Ukrainian military's siege.

The BBC says that more than 2,000 people have been killed in the fighting in eastern Ukraine since the outbreak of violence in the region.