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Ukraine crisis: Military to pull back artillery in east | Ukraine crisis: Military to pull back artillery in east |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Ukraine is preparing to withdraw heavy weaponry away from separatist rebel lines in the east, the military says. | Ukraine is preparing to withdraw heavy weaponry away from separatist rebel lines in the east, the military says. |
The two sides agreed on Saturday to set up a buffer zone in eastern Ukraine, more than a fortnight after a shaky ceasefire came into force. | |
Although the truce is still in place, clashes have continued around the cities of Donetsk and Mariupol. | Although the truce is still in place, clashes have continued around the cities of Donetsk and Mariupol. |
More than 3,000 people have died since fighting broke out in the two regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in April. | More than 3,000 people have died since fighting broke out in the two regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in April. |
Ukraine's parliament passed a bill last week granting three-year "self-rule" to parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions - a decision condemned by some MPs as "capitulation". | |
'Foreign mercenaries' | |
Under the terms of the nine-point deal agreed in Belarus, both the pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces are to pull back their heavy artillery 15km (9.5 miles) from the line of engagement, creating a 30km buffer zone. | Under the terms of the nine-point deal agreed in Belarus, both the pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces are to pull back their heavy artillery 15km (9.5 miles) from the line of engagement, creating a 30km buffer zone. |
Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council spokesman Col Andriy Lysenko said pro-Russian rebels had for their part begun moving their heavy artillery, but it was "not as massive as we expected". | |
Artillery and armoured vehicles with a calibre greater than 100mm would be moved, but all other units and their weapons would remain in place, he said. | |
According to the deal, military aircraft are banned from flying over the conflict zone and "foreign mercenaries" are to be withdrawn on both sides. | |
Foreigners are known to be fighting on both sides and Russia has repeatedly insisted that any of its citizens fighting alongside separatists in Ukraine are doing so in a private capacity. | |
Checkpoints manned by Ukrainian forces had come under heavy shelling at Donetsk airport and near Mariupol, Ukrainian media reported on Monday. | Checkpoints manned by Ukrainian forces had come under heavy shelling at Donetsk airport and near Mariupol, Ukrainian media reported on Monday. |
Col Lysenko said that two servicemen had been killed in the past day. | |
Minsk memorandum: Key points |