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Ukrainian soldiers killed in separatist attacks on anniversary of conflict Ukrainian soldiers killed in separatist attacks on anniversary of conflict
(about 1 hour later)
At least six Ukrainian service personnel have been killed in separatist attacks in Ukraine’s eastern regions on the first anniversary of the conflict.At least six Ukrainian service personnel have been killed in separatist attacks in Ukraine’s eastern regions on the first anniversary of the conflict.
On Sunday, four Ukrainian soldiers died when their vehicle was hit by a shell fired by the Russia-backed rebels as it drove across a bridge in the government-held town of Schastye, 105 miles (170km) north-east of one of the regions main cities, Donetsk, police said.On Sunday, four Ukrainian soldiers died when their vehicle was hit by a shell fired by the Russia-backed rebels as it drove across a bridge in the government-held town of Schastye, 105 miles (170km) north-east of one of the regions main cities, Donetsk, police said.
In a separate incident less than an hour later, a landmine exploded under a military vehicle at Shyrokyne, a village east of the port of Mariupol, killing two soldiers and injuring a third, a military spokesman said on the TV channel 112.In a separate incident less than an hour later, a landmine exploded under a military vehicle at Shyrokyne, a village east of the port of Mariupol, killing two soldiers and injuring a third, a military spokesman said on the TV channel 112.
The new casualties, which followed the deaths of three Ukrainian service personnel in a landmine explosion on Saturday, put further strain on a tenuous ceasefire struck two months ago.The new casualties, which followed the deaths of three Ukrainian service personnel in a landmine explosion on Saturday, put further strain on a tenuous ceasefire struck two months ago.
The conflict erupted a year ago this weekend when rebels opposed to a new pro-western leadership in Kiev after the ousting of Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovych occupied state buildings in two main cities of Ukraine’s Russian-speaking east, Donetsk and Luhansk. The conflict erupted a year ago this weekend when rebels opposed to a new pro-western leadership in Kiev after the ousting of the Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovych occupied state buildings in two main cities of Ukraine’s Russian-speaking east, Donetsk and Luhansk.
More than 6,000 civilians, rebels and Ukrainian service personnel have been killed since then. Kiev has accused Moscow of arming and supporting the rebels, while and the west – backing Ukraine – has imposed economic and financial sanctions against Russia. More than 6,000 civilians, rebels and Ukrainian service personnel have been killed since then. Kiev has accused Moscow of arming and supporting the rebels, and the west has imposed economic and financial sanctions against Russia.
The crisis has now reached stalemate. The ceasefire – brokered by Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France in mid-February – is still in force, though deaths are reported almost daily among Ukrainian soldiers, civilians and rebels. The crisis has now reached stalemate. The ceasefire brokered by Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France in mid-February is still in force, though deaths are reported almost daily among Ukrainian soldiers, civilians and rebels.
But large swaths of the industrial east, including Donetsk and Luhansk, are under the control of the rebels and Kiev fears they could be preparing to try to take Mariupol, a city of half a million people. Large swaths of the industrial east, including Donetsk and Luhansk, are under the control of the rebels and Kiev fears they could be preparing to try to take Mariupol, a city of 500,000 people.
Under an agreement reached in Minsk, Belarus, the warring sides have pulled back heavy military equipment and are working on extending the withdrawal to include tanks and smaller-calibre weapons.Under an agreement reached in Minsk, Belarus, the warring sides have pulled back heavy military equipment and are working on extending the withdrawal to include tanks and smaller-calibre weapons.
But the status of the eastern regions, whose separatist leaders have proclaimed “people’s republics”, remains disputed, with the rebels unlikely to allow Ukrainian elections to be held there later this year. The status of the eastern regions, whose separatist leaders have proclaimed “people’s republics”, remains disputed, however, with the rebels unlikely to allow Ukrainian elections to be held there later this year.
Both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreed in Minsk despite the pull-back of heavy weapons.Both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreed in Minsk despite the pull-back of heavy weapons.