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One day after Ukraine elected a new president, the Ukrainian military launched air strikes against armed pro-Russian separatist rebels who seized the Donetsk International Airport, an official there tells Fox News.

A bombardment of the airport reportedly began shortly after noon local time, and black smoke could be seen rising from buildings following the sounds of shelling.

A firefight broke out after the rebels seized the main airport, just as Petro Poroshenko was elected in a landslide victory on Sunday. Poroshenko, during his first remarks after the vote count, likened the armed separatists in the east to the lawless nature of Somali pirates, The New York Times reported.

Vladislav Seleznyov, a spokesman for Kiev's anti-terrorist operation, wrote on his Facebook account that the military presented an ultimatum earlier this afternoon to unknown armed men who had occupied the airport to lay down the arms.

He said the gunmen didn't comply and the military launched an air strike. Police blocked access to the airport.

- Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko

Hundreds of pro-Russian militia have seized government buildings and fought Ukrainian troops for weeks as their leaders have declared independence.

The airports press service reported that several dozen armed men from the Donetsk Peoples Republic had arrived at the airport at about 3 a.m. and ordered the removal of all Ukrainian military and security personnel, The Times reported. No violence was evident at that time.

Flights at the airport were temporarily suspended, but the airport statement said the rebels were not in control of any flights.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's new president-elect wasted no time Monday focusing on the top issues at hand -- promising to negotiate an end to a pro-Russia insurgency in the east and saying he was willing to begin talks with Moscow.

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UKRAINE UNRESTMilitary launches attack after gunmen seize airport

Ukraine launched air strikes and a paratrooper assault against pro-Russian rebels who seized an airport on Monday, even as its newly elected leader vowed to reassert control in the east and refused to negotiate with "terrorists."

DONETSK, Ukraine

Ukrainians rallied overwhelmingly in an election on Sunday behind Petro Poroshenko, a billionaire owner of chocolate factories and political veteran, hoping the burly 48-year-old can rescue the nation from the brink of bankruptcy, civil war and dismemberment by their former Soviet masters in the Kremlin.

Gunfire and explosions could be heard as a warplane flew over Sergei Prokofiev International Airport hours after truckloads of armed rebel fighters arrived and seized a terminal building. Thick black smoke rose from within the perimeter.

The airport serves a city of one million people that the rebels have proclaimed capital of an independent "people's republic", and where they succeeded in blocking all voting in Sunday's election.

Even as the fighting was getting under way, Poroshenko was holding a news conference in Kiev promising to talk with those in the east who have grievances, but not to those who have taken up weapons.

"They want to preserve a bandit state which is held in place by force of arms," he said. "These are simply bandits. Nobody in any civilized state will hold negotiations with terrorists."

Poroshenko made clear his most urgent task is finding a modus vivendi with the giant neighbor that has seemed poised to carve Ukraine up since a popular revolt toppled a pro-Russian president in February.

Ukraine's "anti-terrorist" military operation against rebels in the east would press on but must be more effective, he said: "Protecting people is one of the functions of the state."

Ukrainian officials say they have held back from using full force in part to avoid provoking an invasion from tens of thousands of Russian troops massed on the frontier. Questions have also been raised about Ukrainian forces' training, equipment and loyalties.

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Ukraine launches attack to retake rebel-held airport

Ukraine's new president-elect wasted no time Monday immediately focusing on the top issues at hand promising to negotiate an end to a pro-Russia insurgency in the east and saying he was willing to begin talks with Moscow.

Russia quickly welcomed the offer from 48-year-old chocolate magnate Petro Poroshenko, raising hopes that his election will indeed ease the protracted crisis that has fueled tensions unseen since the end of the Cold War.

Poroshenko, known for his pragmatism, supports building strong ties with Europe but also has stressed the importance of mending relations with Moscow. Upon claiming victory in Sunday's vote, he said his first step as president would be to visit the Donbass eastern industrial region, where pro-Russia separatists have seized government buildings, declared independence and battled government troops in weeks of fighting.

Ukrainian presidential candidate Petro Poroshenko speaks during a press conference in Kiev, Ukraine on Monday.

"Peace in the country and peace in the east is my main priority," Poroshenko said Monday, signaling that he would bring to an end the Ukrainian army's much-criticized campaign to drive out the armed pro-Russia separatists.

"The anti-terrorist operation cannot and should not last two or three months," he said. "It should and will last hours."

The military operation has caused civilian deaths and destroyed property angering many eastern residents while still failing to crush the rebellion.

The president-elect also had harsh words for the pro-Russia gunmen, comparing them to Somalia pirates.

"Their goal is to turn Donbass into a Somalia where they would rule with the power of machine guns. l will never allow that to happen on the territory of Ukraine," Poroshenko said, adding that he hoped Russia would support his efforts to stabilize the east.

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Ukraine's New President Poroshenko Says Peace Is 'Main Priority'

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