Kiev, rebels accuse each other of breaching ceasefire, heavy artillery withdrawal in doubt
RT.com
February 16, 2015
Ukrainian troops and rebels in the country’s east have been blaming each other for sporadic ceasefire violations. Both sides say they only respond to attacks launched by adversary forces and question the possibility of heavy artillery withdrawal.
The ceasefire is largely holding in eastern Ukraine, the head of the OSCE mission there, Ertugrul Apakan, said Monday. He added that the one exception was Debaltsevo, a town where an estimated 5,000 Ukrainian task force remains trapped, surrounded by rebel forces.
“The situation in Debaltsevo is still tense,” the envoy of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Denis Pushilin, said Monday, Tass reported. “The Ukrainian forces continue shelling. And they are still trying to break through the encirclement from the outer side. It is impossible to cease fire completely there. That is why the self-defense forces have to respond.”
He also said the rebels were “ready to provide a ‘green corridor’” for the troops to be able to exit Debaltsevo. They only want them to leave with no weapons and ammunition.
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