Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine yesterday claimed to have taken the key transportation hub of Debaltseve as both parties faced a deadline to start pulling back heavy weapons from the front line.
Fierce fighting yesterday appeared to be focused on Debaltseve, a government-held town surrounded by rebel forces that both sides claim to be on their side of the ceasefire line. The issue was not resolved under a ceasefire agreement negotiated last week by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France.
Separatist leaders said in remarks carried by the rebel mouthpiece Donetsk News Agency yesterday afternoon that their forces had pushed the Ukrainian army out of Debaltseve.
Photo: EPA
Reporters yesterday saw artillery rounds fired from Ukrainian government positions at rebel positions around Debaltseve. Sustained shelling was heard in the area all morning, some coming from Grad rocket launchers.
Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters that the separatists continued to attack government positions overnight around Debaltseve and that the pullout hinged on the ceasefire being fully observed. He said at least five troops were killed and nine injured in the past 24 hours.
The ceasefire deal, which was brokered by European leaders last week and went into effect early on Sunday, specifies the pullout begins on the second day after the parties stop fighting. This condition has not been met, Lysenko said.
“As soon as the fire ceases ... we will be ready to begin the withdrawal,” Lysenko said.
However, fighting has stopped or subsided in some parts of war-torn eastern Ukraine.
Rebel military spokesman Eduard Basurin said the separatists had not seen any violations of the ceasefire around their stronghold of Donetsk since 8pm on Monday.
Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told a briefing in Geneva that the UN was “alarmed’’ by reports of continued shelling.
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