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In Ukraine, doubts about cease-fire rumble in quiet areas In Ukraine, doubts about cease-fire rumble in quiet areas
(35 minutes later)
SHCHASTYA, Ukraine — Since a cease-fire was declared Sunday, the commander of one of the Ukrainian forces’ most well-known irregular battalions has been sitting in his office, monitoring its progress from a base just minutes from the front line. And it is making him itch. SHCHASTYA, Ukraine — Since a cease-fire was declared Sunday, the commander of one of the Ukrainian forces’ most well-known irregular battalions has been sitting in his office, monitoring the truce from a base just minutes from the front line. And it is making him itch.
Sergey Melnichuk, a member of parliament, is in charge of the Aidar battalion, a unit of volunteer troops with a checkered history of aggressive behavior toward civilians — and a reputation for being one of the fiercest attack forces in the pro-Kiev operation. The battalion operates in the area around Luhansk, about 60 miles northeast of Debaltseve, where pro-Russian rebels have all but surrounded about 5,000 Ukrainian troops, shelling has continued from both sides, and the cease-fire has been largely ignored.Sergey Melnichuk, a member of parliament, is in charge of the Aidar battalion, a unit of volunteer troops with a checkered history of aggressive behavior toward civilians — and a reputation for being one of the fiercest attack forces in the pro-Kiev operation. The battalion operates in the area around Luhansk, about 60 miles northeast of Debaltseve, where pro-Russian rebels have all but surrounded about 5,000 Ukrainian troops, shelling has continued from both sides, and the cease-fire has been largely ignored.
But to Melnichuk, the comparative quiet in Shchastya is more dangerous than the fighting — and his unease is an example of how, even where the cease-fire is holding, the front line may not be as peaceful as it seems.But to Melnichuk, the comparative quiet in Shchastya is more dangerous than the fighting — and his unease is an example of how, even where the cease-fire is holding, the front line may not be as peaceful as it seems.
“The longer this goes on, the more we lose,” Melnichuk said. “Why are we sitting here and waiting to be struck? We should attack. We should reply.”“The longer this goes on, the more we lose,” Melnichuk said. “Why are we sitting here and waiting to be struck? We should attack. We should reply.”
The Aidar battalion is just one of several affiliated volunteer groups fighting alongside the Ukrainian military. They have built their reputations through regular appearances in the conflict’s hottest zones. Though they often work with regular members of the military, these groups maintain an element of independence. Now they are struggling to keep that in check as they adhere to a cease-fire that many believe is undermining the whole operation.The Aidar battalion is just one of several affiliated volunteer groups fighting alongside the Ukrainian military. They have built their reputations through regular appearances in the conflict’s hottest zones. Though they often work with regular members of the military, these groups maintain an element of independence. Now they are struggling to keep that in check as they adhere to a cease-fire that many believe is undermining the whole operation.
“I’m still on the front line. But now I’m just sitting and waiting,” said Mikhailo Drahan, 48, a fighter with the Aidar battalion who is originally from Lviv. “I’m trying to stay calm — emotions are no good for war. But the less we cease fire, the sooner this war will be over.”“I’m still on the front line. But now I’m just sitting and waiting,” said Mikhailo Drahan, 48, a fighter with the Aidar battalion who is originally from Lviv. “I’m trying to stay calm — emotions are no good for war. But the less we cease fire, the sooner this war will be over.”
“Waiting is even worse than when they are shelling, because we don’t know what’s going on,” said Sergey K., 34, a member of the Aidar battalion who goes by the nickname “Green.” He is planning to return to Kiev, the capital, to get married during the cease-fire but would rather be at the front line, he said. “There have been too many cease-fires. They are just waiting for us to relax, and then they’ll fight us again.”“Waiting is even worse than when they are shelling, because we don’t know what’s going on,” said Sergey K., 34, a member of the Aidar battalion who goes by the nickname “Green.” He is planning to return to Kiev, the capital, to get married during the cease-fire but would rather be at the front line, he said. “There have been too many cease-fires. They are just waiting for us to relax, and then they’ll fight us again.”
To Melnichuk, the siege of Debaltseve is a direct result of Kiev opting for truce over strategic attack — and a signal that they should scrap the peace effort and return to the front line.To Melnichuk, the siege of Debaltseve is a direct result of Kiev opting for truce over strategic attack — and a signal that they should scrap the peace effort and return to the front line.
“We have the opportunity to start an attack and pull the forces away,” Melnichuk said, illustrating on a map a battle plan he had proposed to Kiev officials. His forces would attack Luhansk in an effort to distract the separatist forces homing in on Debaltseve.“We have the opportunity to start an attack and pull the forces away,” Melnichuk said, illustrating on a map a battle plan he had proposed to Kiev officials. His forces would attack Luhansk in an effort to distract the separatist forces homing in on Debaltseve.
But the plan was put aside, he said, as leaders focused on reaching a cease-fire agreement.But the plan was put aside, he said, as leaders focused on reaching a cease-fire agreement.
“Now if we attack, then we break the cease-fire,” Melnichuk said, explaining the conundrum that he said is making the men in his battalion “go crazy” with waiting for Kiev to declare the cease-fire broken enough to let them strike. “Their planning in Kiev — it’s zero.”“Now if we attack, then we break the cease-fire,” Melnichuk said, explaining the conundrum that he said is making the men in his battalion “go crazy” with waiting for Kiev to declare the cease-fire broken enough to let them strike. “Their planning in Kiev — it’s zero.”
The continued shelling of Debaltseve is the biggest breach of the two-day-old truce, and the longer the fighting continues, the more it complicates the situation.The continued shelling of Debaltseve is the biggest breach of the two-day-old truce, and the longer the fighting continues, the more it complicates the situation.
The pro-Russian separatist leader, Alexander Zakharchenko, gave notice that rebels would not silence their weapons in Debaltseve before the cease-fire went into effect over the weekend, telling the Russian news agency Interfax that the city was never part of the truce agreement. Kiev fundamentally disputes that interpretation of the deal, which was negotiated last week in Minsk. The pro-Russian separatist leader, Alexander Zakharchenko, gave notice before the cease-fire went into effect that rebels would not silence their weapons in Debaltseve, telling the Russian news agency Interfax that the city was never part of the truce agreement. Kiev fundamentally disputes that interpretation of the deal, which was negotiated last week in Minsk, Belarus.
On Monday, the Ukrainian defense spokesman, Col. Andriy Lysenko, said the fighting around Debaltseve would delay the implementation of other parts of the peace agreement, particularly the withdrawal of heavy weapons from along the front line.On Monday, the Ukrainian defense spokesman, Col. Andriy Lysenko, said the fighting around Debaltseve would delay the implementation of other parts of the peace agreement, particularly the withdrawal of heavy weapons from along the front line.
Ukraine also agreed, in the longer-term, to end an economic blockade of the rebel-controlled territories and to give them greater powers of self-rule. The two sides committed to removing foreign fighters from Ukraine by the end of the year. Ukraine also agreed, in the longer term, to end an economic blockade of the rebel-controlled territories and to give them greater powers of self-rule. The two sides committed to removing foreign fighters from Ukraine by the end of the year.
The Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed Debaltseve in a call early Tuesday. The U.S. State Department noted Monday that it is “gravely concerned” about the situation around Debaltseve, calling on Russia and pro-Russian separatists to “halt all attacks immediately.”The Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed Debaltseve in a call early Tuesday. The U.S. State Department noted Monday that it is “gravely concerned” about the situation around Debaltseve, calling on Russia and pro-Russian separatists to “halt all attacks immediately.”
As the situation in Debaltseve deteriorates, the fragile peace is starting to fray along other points of the front line. In Shyrokyne, a town to the east of Mariupol along the Sea of Azov coast between Russia and Crimea, a volunteer group called the Azov battalion reported Monday that five of its fighters had died in resumed hostilities.As the situation in Debaltseve deteriorates, the fragile peace is starting to fray along other points of the front line. In Shyrokyne, a town to the east of Mariupol along the Sea of Azov coast between Russia and Crimea, a volunteer group called the Azov battalion reported Monday that five of its fighters had died in resumed hostilities.
Alexander Pustovit contributed to this report.Alexander Pustovit contributed to this report.