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Ukrainian troops begin leaving embattled transport hub Major defeat as Ukrainian troops retreat from rail hub
(about 3 hours later)
ARTEMIVSK, Ukraine — Hundreds of exhausted Ukrainian forces staged a chaotic retreat Wednesday from a strategic town besieged by pro-Russian rebels, marking a major defeat for the government and bringing uncertain consequences to efforts at ending the 10-month-old conflict.ARTEMIVSK, Ukraine — Hundreds of exhausted Ukrainian forces staged a chaotic retreat Wednesday from a strategic town besieged by pro-Russian rebels, marking a major defeat for the government and bringing uncertain consequences to efforts at ending the 10-month-old conflict.
The scenes from the railway hub Debaltseve — with Ukrainian soldiers facing fire even as they withdrew over frozen fields — were a stunning reminder of the region’s instability less than a week after the announcement of another cease-fire bid.The scenes from the railway hub Debaltseve — with Ukrainian soldiers facing fire even as they withdrew over frozen fields — were a stunning reminder of the region’s instability less than a week after the announcement of another cease-fire bid.
The deal had quieted fighting elsewhere in eastern Ukraine, but sparked battles for control of Debaltseve as a prize for both sides.The deal had quieted fighting elsewhere in eastern Ukraine, but sparked battles for control of Debaltseve as a prize for both sides.
Separatists aligned with Moscow see Debaltseve as an important transport link between its self-declared breakaway regions. Ukraine’s Western-backed government sought to hold Debaltseve as a key military foothold.Separatists aligned with Moscow see Debaltseve as an important transport link between its self-declared breakaway regions. Ukraine’s Western-backed government sought to hold Debaltseve as a key military foothold.
Thousands of Ukrainian troops had been hanging on in the town for months, but their supply lines had been largely cut after pro-Russian rebels nearly encircled them.Thousands of Ukrainian troops had been hanging on in the town for months, but their supply lines had been largely cut after pro-Russian rebels nearly encircled them.
The withdrawal was a heavy political blow to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who has staked his office on reuniting Ukraine and quelling Europe’s bloodiest conflict since the Balkan wars in the 1990s.The withdrawal was a heavy political blow to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who has staked his office on reuniting Ukraine and quelling Europe’s bloodiest conflict since the Balkan wars in the 1990s.
At least one militia leader-turned-politician called for the head of Ukraine’s military to be charged criminally for the defeat.At least one militia leader-turned-politician called for the head of Ukraine’s military to be charged criminally for the defeat.
“This morning the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with the National Guard, began an operation for the planned and orderly withdrawal of troops from Debaltseve,” Poroshenko said at the Kiev airport before flying to the front lines, where he planned to convene his top security advisers.“This morning the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with the National Guard, began an operation for the planned and orderly withdrawal of troops from Debaltseve,” Poroshenko said at the Kiev airport before flying to the front lines, where he planned to convene his top security advisers.
He said that 80 percent of the troops there had already pulled out.He said that 80 percent of the troops there had already pulled out.
The continued bloodshed raises the stakes about the international response to the crisis. The White House has said it will decide whether to ship weapons to Ukraine partially on the outcome of the cease-fire deal.The continued bloodshed raises the stakes about the international response to the crisis. The White House has said it will decide whether to ship weapons to Ukraine partially on the outcome of the cease-fire deal.
The European Union, meanwhile, has threatened more sanctions against Russia — a possibility raised again Wednesday by a spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel.The European Union, meanwhile, has threatened more sanctions against Russia — a possibility raised again Wednesday by a spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The West has accused Russia of sending troops and weapons to aid the rebels, who oppose the Western-oriented policies of Ukraine’s leadership. Russia has strongly denied the claims.The West has accused Russia of sending troops and weapons to aid the rebels, who oppose the Western-oriented policies of Ukraine’s leadership. Russia has strongly denied the claims.
“This is a massive violation of the truce that has been in effect since Sunday,” Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said in Berlin.“This is a massive violation of the truce that has been in effect since Sunday,” Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said in Berlin.
Underlining the stakes, Merkel, Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande planned to speak by telephone later Wednesday.Underlining the stakes, Merkel, Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande planned to speak by telephone later Wednesday.
A pillar of the cease-fire is the mutual withdrawal of heavy weapons from at least 30 miles of the current front-lines over the next two weeks. Despite the battles in Debaltseve, the rollback was underway in at least one area, said the rebel spokesman Eduard Basurin.A pillar of the cease-fire is the mutual withdrawal of heavy weapons from at least 30 miles of the current front-lines over the next two weeks. Despite the battles in Debaltseve, the rollback was underway in at least one area, said the rebel spokesman Eduard Basurin.
He told Russian Rossiya 1 channel that rebels were pulling back some guns from Olenivka, an area south of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.He told Russian Rossiya 1 channel that rebels were pulling back some guns from Olenivka, an area south of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.
“This is the first step,” Basurin said. “We’re not waiting for Ukraine to start pulling back the weaponry together with us.”“This is the first step,” Basurin said. “We’re not waiting for Ukraine to start pulling back the weaponry together with us.”
A Ukrainian military spokesman said that there was no immediate information about the number of dead and wounded in Debaltseve.A Ukrainian military spokesman said that there was no immediate information about the number of dead and wounded in Debaltseve.
But a rebel spokesman claimed that the pro-Moscow forces had killed thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, the Interfax news agency reported. Separatists also have reported taking hundreds of soldiers captive, but claims on both sides are often wildly exaggerated.But a rebel spokesman claimed that the pro-Moscow forces had killed thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, the Interfax news agency reported. Separatists also have reported taking hundreds of soldiers captive, but claims on both sides are often wildly exaggerated.
An estimated 5,000 Ukrainian troops have been trapped inside the town for a week — a significant portion of Ukraine’s battle-ready soldiers.An estimated 5,000 Ukrainian troops have been trapped inside the town for a week — a significant portion of Ukraine’s battle-ready soldiers.
Debaltseve’s fate was the biggest stumbling block in marathon cease-fire negotiations last week. The accord left the town’s fate unresolved, with both sides claiming it.Debaltseve’s fate was the biggest stumbling block in marathon cease-fire negotiations last week. The accord left the town’s fate unresolved, with both sides claiming it.
Ukrainian leaders have pointed to the battle as a reason that the West should still send weaponry despite the peace deal. Putin said Tuesday that Ukraine should simply accept that it had been defeated there.Ukrainian leaders have pointed to the battle as a reason that the West should still send weaponry despite the peace deal. Putin said Tuesday that Ukraine should simply accept that it had been defeated there.
Officials who were briefed on the cease-fire negotiations said that a major sticking point had been whether Ukrainian soldiers could retreat from Debaltseve while keeping their weapons and equipment.Officials who were briefed on the cease-fire negotiations said that a major sticking point had been whether Ukrainian soldiers could retreat from Debaltseve while keeping their weapons and equipment.
The army has suffered punishing shortages in basic supplies, such as blankets and ammunition.The army has suffered punishing shortages in basic supplies, such as blankets and ammunition.
On Wednesday, many of the retreating soldiers retained their own rifles, and many were perched on tanks and armored personnel carriers heading toward Artemivsk, about 25 miles northwest of Debaltseve.On Wednesday, many of the retreating soldiers retained their own rifles, and many were perched on tanks and armored personnel carriers heading toward Artemivsk, about 25 miles northwest of Debaltseve.
Poroshenko said the troops were able to retreat with their equipment. A military spokesman, Col. Andriy Lysenko, later said they had destroyed any equipment they could not bring with them.Poroshenko said the troops were able to retreat with their equipment. A military spokesman, Col. Andriy Lysenko, later said they had destroyed any equipment they could not bring with them.
Debaltseve has deep strategic significance, both for the rebels and for the Ukrainians. A key railway crossroads, it connects eastern Ukraine’s industrial heartland to Russia. Under rebel control, it can strengthen the economic position of breakaway territories.Debaltseve has deep strategic significance, both for the rebels and for the Ukrainians. A key railway crossroads, it connects eastern Ukraine’s industrial heartland to Russia. Under rebel control, it can strengthen the economic position of breakaway territories.
The apparent defeat was also a powerful signal that rebels still have the strength to menace Ukrainian-held territory.The apparent defeat was also a powerful signal that rebels still have the strength to menace Ukrainian-held territory.
Buses, armored personnel carriers, at least one tank and dozens of other improvised ambulances brought in wounded soldiers to the hospital in Artemivsk, where blood-soaked stretchers were piled outside the main entrance.Buses, armored personnel carriers, at least one tank and dozens of other improvised ambulances brought in wounded soldiers to the hospital in Artemivsk, where blood-soaked stretchers were piled outside the main entrance.
“We should have done it earlier,” said a low-level Ukrainian officer, Vladimir Makarenko, 39, who was sitting Wednesday in a green military radio communications truck and said he had arrived in Debaltseve in late December. “The base camp was fine, but at the front line there was never enough.”“We should have done it earlier,” said a low-level Ukrainian officer, Vladimir Makarenko, 39, who was sitting Wednesday in a green military radio communications truck and said he had arrived in Debaltseve in late December. “The base camp was fine, but at the front line there was never enough.”
If the rebels push farther than Debaltseve, he said, “it will be World War III.”If the rebels push farther than Debaltseve, he said, “it will be World War III.”
During the retreat, “they shot at us the whole time,” said one soldier, who gave only his nickname, Maryak, which means sailor.During the retreat, “they shot at us the whole time,” said one soldier, who gave only his nickname, Maryak, which means sailor.
An officer, who refused to give his name because some of his men were still trapped in Debaltseve, said that “a lot of people managed to escape.”An officer, who refused to give his name because some of his men were still trapped in Debaltseve, said that “a lot of people managed to escape.”
“But on a scale of one to 10, this has been 100” in terms of fighting in the encircled town over the last few days, he said.“But on a scale of one to 10, this has been 100” in terms of fighting in the encircled town over the last few days, he said.
In a sign of the political cauldron that awaits Poroshenko following the pullout, one of his coalition allies in parliament called for criminal charges to be lodged against Ukraine’s military leadership.In a sign of the political cauldron that awaits Poroshenko following the pullout, one of his coalition allies in parliament called for criminal charges to be lodged against Ukraine’s military leadership.
“There were enough forces and equipment. The problem is coordination and command,” Semen Semenchenko, who is also a volunteer militia commander, wrote on Facebook. “The head of the General Staff should be brought to liability. Period.”“There were enough forces and equipment. The problem is coordination and command,” Semen Semenchenko, who is also a volunteer militia commander, wrote on Facebook. “The head of the General Staff should be brought to liability. Period.”
Birnbaum reported from Moscow. Daniela Deane in London and Karen DeYoung and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.Birnbaum reported from Moscow. Daniela Deane in London and Karen DeYoung and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.