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Ukraine crisis: Fierce fighting after Minsk peace deal Ukraine crisis: Fierce fighting after Minsk peace deal
(about 1 hour later)
Intense fighting has been reported in eastern Ukraine, a day after a peace deal was reached in Minsk.Intense fighting has been reported in eastern Ukraine, a day after a peace deal was reached in Minsk.
The fiercest battles were over control of the town of Debaltseve, a strategic town in between rebel-held areas.The fiercest battles were over control of the town of Debaltseve, a strategic town in between rebel-held areas.
Shelling was reported in Donetsk and Luhansk - rebel bastions near the front line where the pro-Russian rebels face government forces. The group responsible for monitoring the ceasefire, due to start at midnight on Saturday, says there is still "quite serious live fire" in several areas.
The ceasefire agreed in the Belarusian capital is to begin in eastern Ukraine after midnight (22:00 GMT) on Saturday. European leaders have warned Russia that it faces additional sanctions if the Minsk agreement is not respected.
The EU has warned Russia of additional sanctions if the deal is not respected.
BBC journalists in Donetsk heard new shelling on Friday morning, though they said it sounded less intense than in recent days.BBC journalists in Donetsk heard new shelling on Friday morning, though they said it sounded less intense than in recent days.
Luhansk also came under bombardment overnight - with Russian TV reporting some of the heaviest fighting in months. Luhansk also came under bombardment overnight - with Russian TV reporting some of the heaviest fighting there in months.
But Ukraine's army said the most ferocious fighting centred on Debaltseve, a railway junction where pro-Russian rebels have encircled government troops and are reportedly bombarding them in a last-ditch effort to win the town. But Ukraine's army said the most ferocious fighting centred on Debaltseve, a railway junction where rebels have besieged government troops in a last-ditch effort to win the town.
The Ukrainian military says eight personnel have died in the past day, while rebels say seven civilians have been killed. "The enemy continues to build up forces in the main areas of the armed conflict. The most tense situation is near Debaltseve," military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters.
Two people were also killed on Friday morning when rebels shelled a cafe in Shchastya, near Luhansk, said the head of the Kiev-controlled regional administration. On Friday, the Ukrainian military said eleven soldiers had died and 40 more wounded in the previous 24 hours, while rebels said seven civilians had been killed.
"So this is how a comprehensive ceasefire is prepared for," said Hennadiy Moskal in a statement. Earlier, two more people died when rebels shelled a cafe in Shchastya, near Luhansk, according to the head of the Kiev-controlled regional administration.
He was echoing wider doubts about the peace deal agreed following marathon negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. The new clashes came amid wider doubts about the peace deal agreed following marathon negotiations between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France.
'Glimmer of hope' Troop movements
Pro-Russian rebels have signed the agreement, which also includes weapon withdrawals and prisoner exchanges, but key issues remain to be settled. Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for the OSCE monitoring group, said they were hopeful the deal would be fully implemented, but said things on the ground remained very turbulent.
"We feel that the Minsk agreements are really the only available roadmap to a sustainable ceasefire. But now unfortunately... there's quite serious live fire in areas like Luhansk, Debaltseve," he said.
He also said monitors had witnessed "significant movements" of unmarked military vehicles and convoys.
Pro-Russian rebels signed the peace agreement but key issues remain to be settled - and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned that implementation would be difficult.
A new round of EU asset freezes and travel bans against 19 Ukrainian separatists and Russians - in response to deadly fighting in the city of Mariupol in January - will come into effect on Monday regardless of the latest deal.A new round of EU asset freezes and travel bans against 19 Ukrainian separatists and Russians - in response to deadly fighting in the city of Mariupol in January - will come into effect on Monday regardless of the latest deal.
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel says wider measures could be implemented if the ceasefire is not upheld. 'Glimmer of hope'
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel says wider measures, including further sanctions on Russia, could be implemented if the ceasefire is not upheld.
She has called the deal "a glimmer of hope", adding: "It is very important that words are followed by actions."She has called the deal "a glimmer of hope", adding: "It is very important that words are followed by actions."
Russia has reaffirmed it is playing no direct role in the conflict, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisting it is only a "guarantor":
"It is not a party that has to take action in this matter. We simply cannot do that physically, because Russia is not a participant in this conflict," he said.
The latest agreement includes:
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says the rival military commanders will hold direct talks - including on the withdrawal of heavy armour to create a buffer zone.
He warned that implementation of the agreement, reached by leaders in the Belarusian capital Minsk, would be difficult.
The fate of Debaltseve will also be a sticking point.
Further talks are to be held on self-rule in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk separatist regions.
The truce is to be monitored by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) - but with only 412 international monitors in Ukraine, including 226 in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, some analysts have expressed doubt that they are there in adequate numbers to do the job.
Few in Donetsk expect a sudden and complete end to war, says the BBC's James Reynolds who is there.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of supplying weapons and personnel to the rebels but Russia denies this.Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of supplying weapons and personnel to the rebels but Russia denies this.
It reaffirmed that denial on Friday, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisting it could only be a "guarantor" because it played no direct role in the conflict.
"[Russia] is not a party that has to take action in this matter. We simply cannot do that physically, because Russia is not a participant in this conflict," he said.
The latest Minsk agreement includes:
The truce will be monitored by the OSCE - but with only 412 international monitors in Ukraine, some analysts have expressed doubt that they are there in adequate numbers to do the job.
Few in Donetsk expect a sudden and complete end to war, says the BBC's James Reynolds who is there.
More than 5,400 people have been killed since the conflict began. There has been a dramatic rise in casualties in recent days, with 263 civilians killed in populated areas between 31 January and 5 February.More than 5,400 people have been killed since the conflict began. There has been a dramatic rise in casualties in recent days, with 263 civilians killed in populated areas between 31 January and 5 February.
Do you live in eastern Ukraine? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukDo you live in eastern Ukraine? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Please include a contact number if you wish to be contacted by a BBC journalist.Please include a contact number if you wish to be contacted by a BBC journalist.
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