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Ukraine fighting at lowest level since conflict broke out Ukraine fighting at lowest level since conflict broke out
(34 minutes later)
Fighting in eastern Ukraine has fallen to its lowest level since the conflict started, Ukrainian Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak has said.Fighting in eastern Ukraine has fallen to its lowest level since the conflict started, Ukrainian Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak has said.
Mr Poltarak said Ukrainian forces were coming under attack just two to four times a day - the lowest rate in the past year and a half. Mr Poltorak said Ukrainian forces were coming under attack just two to four times a day - the lowest rate in the past year and a half.
The reduction in violence comes a week after the latest ceasefire agreement came into force on 1 September.The reduction in violence comes a week after the latest ceasefire agreement came into force on 1 September.
Last week's truce aimed to reinforce an agreement struck in Minsk in February.Last week's truce aimed to reinforce an agreement struck in Minsk in February.
"We come under two to four attacks a day, this is the lowest number of shootings over the past year-and-a-half," Mr Poltarak told journalists. "We come under two to four attacks a day, this is the lowest number of shootings over the past year-and-a-half," Mr Poltorak told journalists.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged fighting had died down but blamed Kiev for not moving forward on other provisions of the agreement, including greater autonomy for the rebel-held eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged fighting had died down but blamed Kiev for not moving forward on other provisions of the agreement, including greater autonomy for the rebel-held eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
"A relative stabilisation has indeed taken place from 1 September and there is practically no shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces of civilian populated areas in Donbass," Mr Peskov said."A relative stabilisation has indeed taken place from 1 September and there is practically no shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces of civilian populated areas in Donbass," Mr Peskov said.
"But if you look at other conceptual points of the Minsk agreements ... unfortunately you cannot note progress, it is impossible.""But if you look at other conceptual points of the Minsk agreements ... unfortunately you cannot note progress, it is impossible."
The Minsk Group, run by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and chaired by Russia, France and the US, is meeting on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments.The Minsk Group, run by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and chaired by Russia, France and the US, is meeting on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments.
Violence erupted last week in the Ukrainian capital Kiev over the granting of greater powers to the rebel-held regions - a key part of the Minsk agreement.Violence erupted last week in the Ukrainian capital Kiev over the granting of greater powers to the rebel-held regions - a key part of the Minsk agreement.
Three members of Ukraine's national guard were killed when nationalists protested against the deal.Three members of Ukraine's national guard were killed when nationalists protested against the deal.
Fighting escalated over the summer between Ukrainian army forces, but the two sides agreed in late August to halt the violence on 1 September, the day children in the region return to school.Fighting escalated over the summer between Ukrainian army forces, but the two sides agreed in late August to halt the violence on 1 September, the day children in the region return to school.
Almost 7,000 people have died since the fighting in eastern Ukraine broke out. At least 7,962 people have been killed and 17,811 wounded since fighting broke out in Ukraine in April last year, the UN said on Tuesday.
Separatists seized large swathes of Donetsk and Luhansk in April 2014, a month after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula amid international condemnation of the move. The figures are a "conservative estimate", the UN's Human Rights Office said, adding that the actual numbers "could be considerably higher".
Separatists seized large swathes of Donetsk and Luhansk in mid-April 2014, a month after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula amid international condemnation of the move.
Moscow denies accusations by Ukraine and the West that it arms the rebels and sends regular troops across the border. The Kremlin says Russian "volunteers" are fighting alongside the rebel force in Ukraine.Moscow denies accusations by Ukraine and the West that it arms the rebels and sends regular troops across the border. The Kremlin says Russian "volunteers" are fighting alongside the rebel force in Ukraine.