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| As Military and Rebels Clash in Ukraine, Doubt Falls on Cease-Fire Prospects | As Military and Rebels Clash in Ukraine, Doubt Falls on Cease-Fire Prospects |
| (2 months later) | |
| SEVERSK, Ukraine — Fierce fighting raged here on Thursday between the Ukrainian military and pro-Russian separatist rebels, with hours of intense shelling casting grave doubts on the prospects of a unilateral cease-fire that was promised just a day earlier by the new Ukrainian president, Petro O. Poroshenko. | |
| As government forces intensified their drive to crush the separatist insurrection that has plunged Ukraine into conflict, explosions rocked villages between Seversk and Krasny Liman, a railroad hub north of the regional capital of Donetsk that could provide a lifeline to the blockaded rebel stronghold of Slavyansk. | As government forces intensified their drive to crush the separatist insurrection that has plunged Ukraine into conflict, explosions rocked villages between Seversk and Krasny Liman, a railroad hub north of the regional capital of Donetsk that could provide a lifeline to the blockaded rebel stronghold of Slavyansk. |
| In another foreboding development, the NATO secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said Thursday that Russia had redeployed several thousand troops along the Ukrainian border. | In another foreboding development, the NATO secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said Thursday that Russia had redeployed several thousand troops along the Ukrainian border. |
| A month ago, President Vladimir V. Putin had ordered soldiers withdrawn from the border area in what appeared to be an effort to defuse Ukraine’s crisis, along with statements that Russia would respect the results of the Ukrainian presidential election. | A month ago, President Vladimir V. Putin had ordered soldiers withdrawn from the border area in what appeared to be an effort to defuse Ukraine’s crisis, along with statements that Russia would respect the results of the Ukrainian presidential election. |
| The troop movements, if confirmed, suggest that the Kremlin, too, sees minimal chance that a cease-fire will be successful, even as Mr. Poroshenko met in Kiev with political and business leaders from the embattled eastern regions and aides said his full peace plan, including the cease-fire, would be announced officially on Friday. In a telephone conversation on Thursday, Mr. Putin expressed “grave concern about Kiev’s continuing military operation in southeast Ukraine” to the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the French president, François Hollande, according to a Kremlin statement. | The troop movements, if confirmed, suggest that the Kremlin, too, sees minimal chance that a cease-fire will be successful, even as Mr. Poroshenko met in Kiev with political and business leaders from the embattled eastern regions and aides said his full peace plan, including the cease-fire, would be announced officially on Friday. In a telephone conversation on Thursday, Mr. Putin expressed “grave concern about Kiev’s continuing military operation in southeast Ukraine” to the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the French president, François Hollande, according to a Kremlin statement. |
| Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Putin had discussed the cease-fire proposal by telephone on Tuesday night. In Kiev, the capital, Iryna Gerashchenko, a presidential aide responsible for resolving the conflict, said the cease-fire would hinge on a requirement to seal the border with Russia and to stop new fighters from arriving. Speaking of the border, Ms. Gerashchenko said, “Not even a single fly should fly across there, let alone crossing by a Russian tank.” | Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Putin had discussed the cease-fire proposal by telephone on Tuesday night. In Kiev, the capital, Iryna Gerashchenko, a presidential aide responsible for resolving the conflict, said the cease-fire would hinge on a requirement to seal the border with Russia and to stop new fighters from arriving. Speaking of the border, Ms. Gerashchenko said, “Not even a single fly should fly across there, let alone crossing by a Russian tank.” |
| Ms. Gerashchenko said that Mr. Poroshenko had secured support for his peace plan among the “legitimate” rulers in the east but would still not negotiate with the armed separatists leading the insurrection. | Ms. Gerashchenko said that Mr. Poroshenko had secured support for his peace plan among the “legitimate” rulers in the east but would still not negotiate with the armed separatists leading the insurrection. |
| The rebels have already rejected the idea of a truce, saying they do not trust Mr. Poroshenko to halt the military campaign, and do not believe his promise to grant them amnesty from arrest and prosecution. | The rebels have already rejected the idea of a truce, saying they do not trust Mr. Poroshenko to halt the military campaign, and do not believe his promise to grant them amnesty from arrest and prosecution. |
| “This was an attempt to break through,” Vladimir Nosikov, the rebel commander of 50 militiamen from the neighboring region of Luhansk who arrived to reinforce the anti-Kiev fighters. He portrayed the fight as a victory for the rebels, though that was far from clear Thursday evening as bombardments continued. | “This was an attempt to break through,” Vladimir Nosikov, the rebel commander of 50 militiamen from the neighboring region of Luhansk who arrived to reinforce the anti-Kiev fighters. He portrayed the fight as a victory for the rebels, though that was far from clear Thursday evening as bombardments continued. |
| “Does that sound like a cease-fire to you?” Mr. Nosikov added. | “Does that sound like a cease-fire to you?” Mr. Nosikov added. |
| Despite the talk of an imminent cease-fire, the Ukrainian military has stepped up its efforts to kill or oust the rebels throughout the east, including in the area here near Krasny Liman. | Despite the talk of an imminent cease-fire, the Ukrainian military has stepped up its efforts to kill or oust the rebels throughout the east, including in the area here near Krasny Liman. |
| A spokesman for the Ukrainian military, Vladislav Seleznyov, said bluntly on Thursday that the separatists had been attacked because they refused a demand to surrender in exchange for amnesty that was conveyed in leaflets dropped over the town on Wednesday evening. | A spokesman for the Ukrainian military, Vladislav Seleznyov, said bluntly on Thursday that the separatists had been attacked because they refused a demand to surrender in exchange for amnesty that was conveyed in leaflets dropped over the town on Wednesday evening. |
| Rebels who were defending a position in a town called Yampil, about five miles east of Krasny Liman, said they had not seen the fliers or heard of any calls for surrender. | Rebels who were defending a position in a town called Yampil, about five miles east of Krasny Liman, said they had not seen the fliers or heard of any calls for surrender. |
| “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 Thursday afternoon that 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 connected to Mr. Poroshenko’s peace plan. | Mr. Seleznyov said Thursday afternoon that 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 connected to Mr. Poroshenko’s peace plan. |
| Mr. Nosikov said that two rebel fighters had died in the clashes, and other rebel commanders and fighters in Seversk said anywhere from five to eight were wounded. | Mr. Nosikov said that two rebel fighters had died in the clashes, and other rebel commanders and fighters in Seversk said anywhere from five to eight were wounded. |
| The increased fighting in eastern Ukraine, which is known as Donbass, drew an anguished statement from Rinat Akhmetov, a billionaire who is both Ukraine’s richest man and a resident of Donetsk. He complained about the posturing over process while the number of casualties continues to rise. | The increased fighting in eastern Ukraine, which is known as Donbass, drew an anguished statement from Rinat Akhmetov, a billionaire who is both Ukraine’s richest man and a resident of Donetsk. He complained about the posturing over process while the number of casualties continues to rise. |
| “Donbass is in distress,” Mr. Akhmetov said. “Blood is flowing in Donbass. Our cities, towns and infrastructure are being destroyed. But the most terrible thing is that people are suffering and dying. Donbass needs peace. However, Kiev is saying that it will never sit down at the negotiating table with terrorists. Does that mean that the war will last forever?” | “Donbass is in distress,” Mr. Akhmetov said. “Blood is flowing in Donbass. Our cities, towns and infrastructure are being destroyed. But the most terrible thing is that people are suffering and dying. Donbass needs peace. However, Kiev is saying that it will never sit down at the negotiating table with terrorists. Does that mean that the war will last forever?” |
| He added: “People do not need a process. People need a result. People need peace!” | He added: “People do not need a process. People need a result. People need peace!” |
| The reports of a renewed Russian troop buildup by NATO came as Western leaders, including President Obama, seemed increasingly distracted by the crisis in Iraq. Although Mr. Obama and other Western leaders had warned of additional economic sanctions against Russia should the situation in eastern Ukraine worsen, there has been no recent discussion of new punitive measures. | The reports of a renewed Russian troop buildup by NATO came as Western leaders, including President Obama, seemed increasingly distracted by the crisis in Iraq. Although Mr. Obama and other Western leaders had warned of additional economic sanctions against Russia should the situation in eastern Ukraine worsen, there has been no recent discussion of new punitive measures. |
| In Seversk, a town east of Krasny Liman, some rebel forces complained of dwindling ammunition stores and little artillery to fight off the Ukrainian offensive. | In Seversk, a town east of Krasny Liman, some rebel forces complained of dwindling ammunition stores and little artillery to fight off the Ukrainian offensive. |
| Down a road guarded by a rebel fighter armed only with a grenade, the town’s militia had fashioned a crude headquarters and triage center in a sandbagged building that resembled a community center. In the main hall, a disco ball hung above rows of mattresses where the men sometimes slept and where doctors had operated on others wounded in the bombardment. | Down a road guarded by a rebel fighter armed only with a grenade, the town’s militia had fashioned a crude headquarters and triage center in a sandbagged building that resembled a community center. In the main hall, a disco ball hung above rows of mattresses where the men sometimes slept and where doctors had operated on others wounded in the bombardment. |
| “You’ve taken my gunners and my Gazelle,” a rebel doctor who called himself Mechanic yelled into a mobile phone, referring to a van, as he stalked across the compound. “So here’s my question: What am I supposed to do now?” He said that he had treated five people, most with shrapnel wounds to the side and back, during the day. | “You’ve taken my gunners and my Gazelle,” a rebel doctor who called himself Mechanic yelled into a mobile phone, referring to a van, as he stalked across the compound. “So here’s my question: What am I supposed to do now?” He said that he had treated five people, most with shrapnel wounds to the side and back, during the day. |
| Outside, the militia’s commander, Vadim, lay injured in a green jeep with his leg stretched across the back seat and a scabbed wound on his nose. He said the attack was unprovoked. | Outside, the militia’s commander, Vadim, lay injured in a green jeep with his leg stretched across the back seat and a scabbed wound on his nose. He said the attack was unprovoked. |
| “If we do not get more reinforcements soon, we will have to retreat,” he said. | “If we do not get more reinforcements soon, we will have to retreat,” he said. |
| At the checkpoint outside Seversk, which the fighters called the “front line,” rebels said they had no plans to surrender. | At the checkpoint outside Seversk, which the fighters called the “front line,” rebels said they had no plans to surrender. |
| Volodya, a former paratrooper who fought during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, said he would like to go home to his wife and children, “who didn’t let me come out here easy.” | Volodya, a former paratrooper who fought during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, said he would like to go home to his wife and children, “who didn’t let me come out here easy.” |
| “Two years of war in Afghanistan told me there is nothing more valuable than human life,” he said. Many of the men who said they were electricians, miners, train operators, agreed, but said that they would continue fighting. “Do you think I want to be here?” Volodya said. | “Two years of war in Afghanistan told me there is nothing more valuable than human life,” he said. Many of the men who said they were electricians, miners, train operators, agreed, but said that they would continue fighting. “Do you think I want to be here?” Volodya said. |