KYIV/LUHANSK. Feb 11 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has dismissed media reports that militias had seized the village of Chernukhino, Popasnaya district, Luhansk region.
"We hereby inform you that the village of Chernukhino is controlled by the Ukrainian military. The situation in this Ukrainian town is tense but anti-terrorist forces are doing whatever is necessary to stabilize the situation by blocking and destroying gangs and groups operating in the area, restraining the enemy's aggression on certain frontiers and areas," the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff said on the Defense Ministry's website.
Chernukhino is located eight kilometers east of Debaltseve. Until October 2014, it was part of the Perevalsky district. In 2011 it had a population of 6,100.
Earlier Luhansk militias said that the had evacuated more than 30 people from Chernukhino.