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| Ukraine crisis: Shelling in Donetsk region hours after ceasefire commences | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Pro-Russian rebels have shelled Ukrainian positions ten times since a ceasefire started at midnight – but the truce is still generally being observed, Ukraine’s military has said. | |
| The sound of heavy artillery fire could be heard coming from Debaltseve in east Ukraine this morning, hours after President Petro Poroshenko had ordered forces to lay down their weapons. | The sound of heavy artillery fire could be heard coming from Debaltseve in east Ukraine this morning, hours after President Petro Poroshenko had ordered forces to lay down their weapons. |
| Pro-Russian fighters had started shooting in defence after Ukrainian forces had allegedly violated the ceasefire first, separatist news service DAN quoted a senior rebel commander as saying. | Pro-Russian fighters had started shooting in defence after Ukrainian forces had allegedly violated the ceasefire first, separatist news service DAN quoted a senior rebel commander as saying. |
| The ceasefire was being observed in general, according to military spokesman Vladyslav Seleznyov – who said: “Shelling [by rebels] has been not regular and [has been] localised.” | The ceasefire was being observed in general, according to military spokesman Vladyslav Seleznyov – who said: “Shelling [by rebels] has been not regular and [has been] localised.” |
| “Units were forced to open fire in response,” defence spokesman of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Eduard Basurin, was quoted as saying. | “Units were forced to open fire in response,” defence spokesman of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Eduard Basurin, was quoted as saying. |
| The peace deal includes plans for a neutral buffer zone and the withdrawal of heavy weapons that have caused the deaths of more than 5,400 people. | The peace deal includes plans for a neutral buffer zone and the withdrawal of heavy weapons that have caused the deaths of more than 5,400 people. |
| Ukrainian armed forces ride on a military vehicle near Artemivsk The conflict between Ukraine and separatists has been the worst in Russia-West relations since the Cold War. | Ukrainian armed forces ride on a military vehicle near Artemivsk The conflict between Ukraine and separatists has been the worst in Russia-West relations since the Cold War. |
| The truce was brokered on Thursday by Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, Russian president Vladimir Putin, German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Francois Hollande. | The truce was brokered on Thursday by Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, Russian president Vladimir Putin, German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Francois Hollande. |
| Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of sending troops and weapons to help separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, which the Kremlin staunchly denies. | Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of sending troops and weapons to help separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, which the Kremlin staunchly denies. |
| The annexation of the Ukraine’s southern Crimea peninsula by Russia triggered the fighting last year. | The annexation of the Ukraine’s southern Crimea peninsula by Russia triggered the fighting last year. |