ROSTOV-ON-DON, July 15 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s Donetsk checkpoint in Rostov Region has reopened following a shooting on Ukraine’s border, a spokesperson for Russia’s Border Guard Service, Vasily Malaev, told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.
“The customs control station has reopened now,” Malaev said.
On Monday night, the Donetsk checkpoint was closed due to shootings at the adjoining Ukrainian Izvarino customs station. All customs personnel were evacuated for security reasons.
The Donetsk customs station was first closed July 13, when shells exploded in the Russian city of Donetsk in Rostov Region.
One Russian citizen died when the shell hit a house, two women were injured, one of them seriously.
The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the shelling, and warned Ukraine that the provocation might have irreversible consequences.
Ukrainian authorities refused to admit that they shelled Russian territory. The checkpoint resumed operations.
The closure of checkpoints has become a regular occurrence since Kiev authorities launched a military operation in southeastern Ukraine in mid-April.
Moscow describes the operation that is intended to suppress independence supporters as “punitive” and calls for an immediate end of the bloodshed.
