Pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine on Saturday accused Kiev’s forces of breaking a ceasefire just hours after it was agreed, and vowed to pursue their independence drive in the east. A leading member of the parliament established by the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic said Ukrainian units had launched several missiles toward rebel positions after the truce went into effect at 6:00 pm on Friday.
‘The ceasefire’s terms are not being observed. Yesterday ‘at 9:00 pm, we saw several missiles launched on the outskirts of the city of Donetsk, and also a heavy armoured column moving from the (neighbouring southwestern region) of Zaporizhia,’ Vladimir Makovich told AFP. His comments were echoed by the ‘prime minister’ of the People’s Republic, Aleksander Zakharchenko, in comments to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. ‘It is too early to speak completely of a ceasefire,’ he said.
Ukraine’s military said earlier there had been no fighting in Donetsk since the ceasefire deal and AFP reporters in conflict zones said the situation appeared to be calm.
‘The ceasefire’s terms are not being observed. Yesterday ‘at 9:00 pm, we saw several missiles launched on the outskirts of the city of Donetsk, and also a heavy armoured column moving from the (neighbouring southwestern region) of Zaporizhia,’ Vladimir Makovich told AFP. His comments were echoed by the ‘prime minister’ of the People’s Republic, Aleksander Zakharchenko, in comments to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. ‘It is too early to speak completely of a ceasefire,’ he said.
Ukraine’s military said earlier there had been no fighting in Donetsk since the ceasefire deal and AFP reporters in conflict zones said the situation appeared to be calm.