DTN News - UKRAINE CRISIS: The Hours Before The Ceasefire Between Ukraine And Pro-Russian Rebels – In Picture
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 14, 2015: Fears for Ukraine’s ceasefire as clashes with Russia-backed rebels intensify. Neither side seems to expect an end to the conflict, and both were trying to shore up their positions before the deadline.
Fighting between government and rebel forces in eastern Ukraine trailed off in the first hours after a midnight ceasefire began – but steady shelling resumed later in the morning near the besieged city of Debaltseve.
Kiev and the breakaway republics in the east said fighting had quietened and the ceasefire was mostly being observed.
But the Guardian heard mortar fire to the east of Luhanske on the highway to Debaltseve, where up to 8,000 Ukrainian troops have been under rebel attack for weeks.
The UN security council was convening an emergency session on Sunday to hear a Russian resolution on the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
South of Luhanske is a 10-mile stretch of road that is often shelled by rebels and is reportedly mined, largely cutting off Debaltseve from the rest of the Ukrainian forces. Further north on the highway a destroyed troop transport truck was still smoking on Sunday morning.
Soldiers at the last checkpoint in Luhanske said the guns had gone quiet after the midnight ceasefire, but shelling of Ukrainian positions in the area had resumed around 6am – a report confirmed by the press service of Kiev’s “anti-terrorist operation”.
“There’s no ceasefire here,” said a Ukrainian soldier who would give only his first name, Andrei.
“It’s a present from Putin,” joked another soldier, gesturing in the direction of the shelling.
The soldiers said Ukrainian forces were not shooting back, but some of the shelling to the east of Luhanske sounded like outgoing fire. Ukrainian army command said its forces were observing the ceasefire but would return fire if attacked or if the rebels shelled residential areas.
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