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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 deal agreed last week. | Fierce fighting is reported inside the key Ukrainian town of Debaltseve despite a ceasefire deal agreed last week. |
| Rebels say they have taken most of Debaltseve, a transport hub, but the government says it is still in control. | Rebels say they have taken most of Debaltseve, a transport hub, but the government says it is still in control. |
| 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. |
| 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 and others had been killed. | The rebels also said that dozens of Ukrainian troops in Debaltseve had surrendered and others had been killed. |
| A Ukrainian military spokesman quoted by Reuters news agency confirmed that rebels were attacking the railway station but said the town was still in government hands. | A Ukrainian military spokesman quoted by Reuters news agency confirmed that rebels were attacking the railway station but said the town was still in government hands. |
| 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. | |
| "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' | |
| 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 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 German chancellor and Ukrainian president called on the Russian president to exercise his influence on the separatists to enforce the ceasefire," German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said. | "The German chancellor and Ukrainian president called on the Russian president to exercise his influence on the separatists to enforce the ceasefire," German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said. |
| 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 |
| "Further, the withdrawal of heavy weapons should be started on Tuesday, as agreed in Minsk." | "Further, the withdrawal of heavy weapons should be started on Tuesday, as agreed in Minsk." |
| Under the ceasefire agreed in the Belarus capital Minsk last week, the withdrawal of heavy weapons from front line areas was due to start no later than the second day after the truce came into effect and be completed within two weeks. | Under the ceasefire agreed in the Belarus capital Minsk last week, the withdrawal of heavy weapons from front line areas was due to start no later than the second day after the truce came into effect and be completed within two weeks. |
| The withdrawal would create buffer zones 50-140km (30-85 miles) wide. | The withdrawal would create buffer zones 50-140km (30-85 miles) wide. |
| But both sides says they will not withdraw heavy weapons until they see movement from the other side. | But both sides says they will not withdraw heavy weapons until they see movement from the other side. |
| US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US was "gravely concerned by the deteriorating situation in and around Debaltseve". | US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US was "gravely concerned by the deteriorating situation in and around Debaltseve". |
| Meanwhile, further EU sanctions against Russia have come into effect. | Meanwhile, further EU sanctions against Russia have come into effect. |
| The new sanctions list targets 19 officials - most of them in the pro-Russian separatist strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk, but also two Russian deputy defence ministers and a Russian celebrity singer and MP, Iosif Kobzon. | The new sanctions list targets 19 officials - most of them in the pro-Russian separatist strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk, but also two Russian deputy defence ministers and a Russian celebrity singer and MP, Iosif Kobzon. |
| 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. |
| 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 |