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| Ukraine crisis: Battle rages for Debaltseve despite truce | Ukraine crisis: Battle rages for Debaltseve despite truce |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Fierce fighting is reported inside the key Ukrainian town of Debaltseve despite a ceasefire agreed last week. | Fierce fighting is reported inside the key Ukrainian town of Debaltseve despite a ceasefire agreed last week. |
| Rebels say they have taken most of Debaltseve, a transport hub, but the government says it is still holding its positions. | Rebels say they have taken most of Debaltseve, a transport hub, but the government says it is still holding its positions. |
| International observers tasked with monitoring the ceasefire have been unable to enter the town. | International observers tasked with monitoring the ceasefire have been unable to enter the town. |
| Meanwhile Ukraine accused separatists of breaching the ceasefire and said hopes for peace were being destroyed. | |
| At a news conference, presidential spokesman Valery Chaly called on participants in the Minsk talks, members of the EU and Nato to protest strongly against the actions of the rebels. | |
| Earlier, both sides failed to begin withdrawing heavy weapons, despite a Monday deadline agreed in the truce. | Earlier, both sides failed to begin withdrawing heavy weapons, despite a Monday deadline agreed in the truce. |
| The two sides were given until two days after the latest ceasefire came into effect to start the pullout. | The two sides were given until two days after the latest ceasefire came into effect to start the pullout. |
| A spokesman for the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic told Russian news agency Interfax that the police station in Debaltseve had been taken as well as the railway station. | A spokesman for the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic told Russian news agency Interfax that the police station in Debaltseve had been taken as well as the railway station. |
| He said most of the city was under the control of the separatists and that a mopping-up operation was continuing. | He said most of the city was under the control of the separatists and that a mopping-up operation was continuing. |
| The rebels also said that dozens of Ukrainian troops in Debaltseve had surrendered, but the government denied this. | The rebels also said that dozens of Ukrainian troops in Debaltseve had surrendered, but the government denied this. |
| The Ukrainian military said that there was intense fighting in the streets and confirmed that the rebels were in control of parts of the city. | |
| "Our troops are holding their positions, and they are well within their rights to return fire and hold the positions that they have held for several months," said spokesman Andriy Lysenko, quoted by Interfax. | "Our troops are holding their positions, and they are well within their rights to return fire and hold the positions that they have held for several months," said spokesman Andriy Lysenko, quoted by Interfax. |
| Meanwhile Russia's LifeNews website reported that rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko had been lightly wounded in the leg during the fighting in Debaltseve and had been evacuated from the city. | |
| Rebels have offered Ukrainian troops under siege there a safe corridor to leave. | Rebels have offered Ukrainian troops under siege there a safe corridor to leave. |
| Speaking by phone from inside the town, deputy regional police chief Ilya Kiva said rebels were using small arms, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. | Speaking by phone from inside the town, deputy regional police chief Ilya Kiva said rebels were using small arms, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. |
| "There are wounded and killed but we cannot confirm the numbers yet," he said. | "There are wounded and killed but we cannot confirm the numbers yet," he said. |
| Although Debaltseve has suffered weeks of artillery exchanges, correspondents say this is the first fierce fighting inside the town. | Although Debaltseve has suffered weeks of artillery exchanges, correspondents say this is the first fierce fighting inside the town. |
| 'Internal territory' | 'Internal territory' |
| Most of Debaltseve's 25,000 population have been evacuated but about 7,000 civilians are still believed trapped by the fighting, according to Amnesty International. | Most of Debaltseve's 25,000 population have been evacuated but about 7,000 civilians are still believed trapped by the fighting, according to Amnesty International. |
| The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says there is great concern about the humanitarian situation, with water now running out. | The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says there is great concern about the humanitarian situation, with water now running out. |
| The ceasefire, which came into effect on Sunday, has been broadly observed but separatists insist the agreement does not apply in Debaltseve because they have the town almost surrounded. | The ceasefire, which came into effect on Sunday, has been broadly observed but separatists insist the agreement does not apply in Debaltseve because they have the town almost surrounded. |
| Denis Pushilin, a spokesman for the Donetsk People's Republic, described Debaltseve as "internal territory" and said fighting for it was "a moral thing". | Denis Pushilin, a spokesman for the Donetsk People's Republic, described Debaltseve as "internal territory" and said fighting for it was "a moral thing". |
| "We do not have the right [to stop fighting]," he told Reuters. | "We do not have the right [to stop fighting]," he told Reuters. |
| Another rebel leader in the Donetsk region, Andrei Purgin, said separatists planned to discuss the possible withdrawal of weapons later on Tuesday with representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported. | Another rebel leader in the Donetsk region, Andrei Purgin, said separatists planned to discuss the possible withdrawal of weapons later on Tuesday with representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported. |
| In the neighbouring Luhansk region, separatist leader Igor Plotnitsky said he had begun pulling back his tanks and artillery in line with the ceasefire agreement. His claim could not be independently verified. | In the neighbouring Luhansk region, separatist leader Igor Plotnitsky said he had begun pulling back his tanks and artillery in line with the ceasefire agreement. His claim could not be independently verified. |
| Ukraine's military said on Tuesday that five soldiers had been killed and 14 wounded in the past 24 hours. A spokesman told AFP news agency that most of the deaths happened near Debaltseve. | Ukraine's military said on Tuesday that five soldiers had been killed and 14 wounded in the past 24 hours. A spokesman told AFP news agency that most of the deaths happened near Debaltseve. |
| Ukraine's pro-Western government says Russia is supporting the separatists with troops and weapons, but the Kremlin has consistently denied this. | Ukraine's pro-Western government says Russia is supporting the separatists with troops and weapons, but the Kremlin has consistently denied this. |
| Meanwhile, the leaders of Germany, Ukraine and Russia discussed the crisis in an overnight phone call. | Meanwhile, the leaders of Germany, Ukraine and Russia discussed the crisis in an overnight phone call. |
| Germany said they had agreed "concrete measures" for observers to have greater access, but gave no details. | Germany said they had agreed "concrete measures" for observers to have greater access, but gave no details. |
| Observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), who are charged with monitoring the ceasefire, have been trying to reach Debaltseve after being denied access by pro-Russian rebels on Sunday. | Observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), who are charged with monitoring the ceasefire, have been trying to reach Debaltseve after being denied access by pro-Russian rebels on Sunday. |
| The withdrawal was due to start no later than the second day after the truce came into effect and be completed within two weeks, creating buffer zones 50-140km (30-85 miles) wide. | |
| 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. | |
| Minsk agreement: Key points | Minsk agreement: Key points |
| Ukraine 'pits Russia against West' | Ukraine 'pits Russia against West' |
| Ukraine conflict in maps | Ukraine conflict in maps |
| Do you live in eastern Ukraine or have friends and family in the region? What do you think about the recent developments? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Do you live in eastern Ukraine or have friends and family in the region? What do you think about the recent developments? 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. |
| Have your say | Have your say |