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Clashes Reported in Ukraine After Cease-Fire Proposal Clashes Reported in Ukraine After Cease-Fire Proposal
(34 minutes later)
DONETSK, Ukraine — A town several hours north of Donetsk was the site of heavy fighting on Thursday, a day after President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine said he might soon order a temporary, unilateral cease-fire.DONETSK, Ukraine — A town several hours north of Donetsk was the site of heavy fighting on Thursday, a day after President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine said he might soon order a temporary, unilateral cease-fire.
Residents of Krasny Liman, a railroad hub, said by telephone that they had heard heavy shelling outside the town near a checkpoint previously held by rebels. They said the shelling began before 6 a.m. and continued at high intensity for several hours.Residents of Krasny Liman, a railroad hub, said by telephone that they had heard heavy shelling outside the town near a checkpoint previously held by rebels. They said the shelling began before 6 a.m. and continued at high intensity for several hours.
An unnamed spokesman for a local rebel militia who was quoted by the news agency Interfax said the army had used fighter jets and artillery in the attack, although similar rebel claims about the use of aircraft have sometimes proved to be unfounded. The attack took place on the outskirts of Krasny Liman and to the east, near the town of Seversk. As the new fighting flared, a top NATO official said that Russia had deployed several thousand troops along the Ukrainian border, just weeks after a much larger Russian force had been withdrawn.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO’s secretary general, called the renewed Russian buildup “a very regrettable step backward,” according to the Associated Press.
He said NATO had detected the deployment of several thousand troops and military maneuvers near the Russia-Ukraine border.
“If they’re deployed to seal the border and stop the flow of weapons and fighters that would be a positive step,” Mr. Rasmussen said, according to the news service. “But that’s not what we’re seeing.”
In Krasny Liman, an unnamed spokesman for a local rebel militia who was quoted by the news agency Interfax said the army had used fighter jets and artillery in the attack, although similar rebel claims about the use of aircraft have sometimes proved to be unfounded. The attack took place on the outskirts of Krasny Liman and to the east, near the town of Seversk.
Vladislav Seleznyov, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Army, said, “The antiterror operation is in an active phase currently in that city and others.”Vladislav Seleznyov, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Army, said, “The antiterror operation is in an active phase currently in that city and others.”
Mr. Seleznyov said Ukrainian forces had dropped leaflets over Krasny Liman late Wednesday evening encouraging rebel forces to surrender in exchange for amnesty.Mr. Seleznyov said Ukrainian forces had dropped leaflets over Krasny Liman late Wednesday evening encouraging rebel forces to surrender in exchange for amnesty.
“As they didn’t fulfill the conditions of the ultimatum,” Mr. Seleznyov said, referring to a call to lay down arms, “the decision was made to destroy them.”“As they didn’t fulfill the conditions of the ultimatum,” Mr. Seleznyov said, referring to a call to lay down arms, “the decision was made to destroy them.”
Mr. Seleznyov said he had no information about casualties on either side. He also declined to comment on whether the ultimatum delivered to the separatist fighters on Wednesday was part of the peace plan discussed by Mr. Poroshenko earlier in the day.Mr. Seleznyov said he had no information about casualties on either side. He also declined to comment on whether the ultimatum delivered to the separatist fighters on Wednesday was part of the peace plan discussed by Mr. Poroshenko earlier in the day.
Igor Chugay, a resident of Krasny Liman who fashioned a crude bomb shelter under a concrete chicken coop in his yard, said occasional shelling was continuing Thursday on the town’s outskirts.Igor Chugay, a resident of Krasny Liman who fashioned a crude bomb shelter under a concrete chicken coop in his yard, said occasional shelling was continuing Thursday on the town’s outskirts.
Krasny Liman, located near the besieged rebel stronghold of Slavyansk, has been the scene of fighting before. Earlier this month, Ukrainian government forces took the south of the town and destroyed a rebel checkpoint using armored vehicles and helicopters.Krasny Liman, located near the besieged rebel stronghold of Slavyansk, has been the scene of fighting before. Earlier this month, Ukrainian government forces took the south of the town and destroyed a rebel checkpoint using armored vehicles and helicopters.