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Ukraine crisis: President Poroshenko orders ceasefire Ukraine crisis: Fighting subsides after ceasefire
(about 7 hours later)
Ukraine's president has said a truce agreed with pro-Russian rebels in the east must be honoured, as he ordered the army to stop fighting. Fighting in east Ukraine has subsided but not stopped since a ceasefire came into effect, Ukraine's military says
Petro Poroshenko also warned the rebels against continuing attacks on the besieged strategic town of Debaltseve. Spokesmen identified a handful of incidents of rebel shelling, mainly around the besieged town of Debaltseve.
Fighting appeared to have died down immediately after the ceasefire took effect at 22:00 GMT. Pro-Russian rebels have also accused Ukrainian forces of deploying artillery after the truce came into effect at midnight (22:00 GMT Saturday).
But later both the government and the separatists accused each other of mortar shelling in some places. Fierce battles raged near the Debaltseve - a key transport hub - in the hours leading up to the truce.
Earlier on Saturday, rebel leaders had also ordered their forces to stop fighting in line with the ceasefire. Analysts point out that previous truces initially appeared to be broadly holding, and say the next 48 hours are critical.
Fighting had raged near Debaltseve just hours before the truce was due to kick in. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel brokered the agreement on Thursday after lengthy talks in the Belarusian capital Minsk.
President Poroshenko has warned that Ukraine will not "turn the other cheek" if the deal is violated.
In a televised address at the time the ceasefire took hold, he said Ukrainian troops in Debeltseve had been resupplied with ammunition.
The US, which has warned it could begin supplying arms to Ukraine if the peace initiative failed, claimed on Saturday it had evidence that the Russian military had deployed weaponry around Debeltseve - contrary to Moscow denials that it is playing any direct role in the conflict.
Officials say more than 5,400 people have been killed since the conflict erupted in eastern Ukraine in April, but the UN believes the actual death toll to be much higher.Officials say more than 5,400 people have been killed since the conflict erupted in eastern Ukraine in April, but the UN believes the actual death toll to be much higher.
The fighting followed the annexation by Russia of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of sending troops and weapons to help the separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions - a claim the Kremlin vehemently denies.
'Last chance''Last chance'
In a national broadcast from the military headquarters in Kiev, President Poroshenko ordered the commander of what Ukraine describes as an "anti-terror operation" to observe the ceasefire. On Sunday morning, Ukraine military spokesman Vladyslav Seleznyov said the truce was being "observed in general".
Mr Poroshenko expressed hopes that "perhaps the last chance [for peace] won't be lost", adding that agreements "must be honoured, and we are expecting that the ceasefire deal will be adhered to". "Shelling [by rebels] has been not regular and [has been] localised," he said, according to Reuters news agency.
The president said that there was still "alarm" over the situation around Debaltseve - a strategic transport hub, where government forces have been for days besieged by the separatists. Another spokesman, Anatoly Stelmakh, said there had been some 10 incidents of shelling since the truce took hold, mainly around Debaltseve.
The rebels say that they are now surrounding Debaltseve, where several thousand Ukrainian troops are believed to be stationed. Kiev denies the claim. He said Ukrainian forces had "repelled a few attacks" in Shyrokyne, near the strategic southern port city of Mariupol.
He claimed hundreds of "terrorists" had been killed in the previous two days.
According to the Minsk agreement, cessation of hostilities is only the first step and should be followed by the creation of two demilitarised buffer zones between 50-140km (30-85 miles)wide, beginning on Monday.
In his TV address, Mr Poroshenko expressed hopes that "perhaps the last chance [for peace] won't be lost", adding that agreements "must be honoured, and we are expecting that the ceasefire deal will be adhered to".
The president said there was still "alarm" over the situation around Debaltseve, where several thousand Ukrainian troops have been besieged by the separatists for days.
The rebels say they have completely cut off supply routes to Debaltseve, encircling the town. Ukraine denies the claim.
Donetsk rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko said earlier on Saturday that he considered the Debaltseve area was not covered by the agreed ceasefire.Donetsk rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko said earlier on Saturday that he considered the Debaltseve area was not covered by the agreed ceasefire.
The truce deal was brokered on Thursday in Minsk, Belarus by Mr Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. European leaders have warned Russia that it could face additional sanctions if the 13-point ceasefire agreement is not respected.
But key issues remain to be settled, including the situation in Debaltseve.
European leaders have warned Russia that it could face additional sanctions if the agreement is not respected.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the deal offered "a glimmer of hope", but warned: "It is very important that words are followed by actions."
Do you live in eastern Ukraine? What do you think about the ceasefire? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukDo you live in eastern Ukraine? What do you think about the ceasefire? 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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