Explosions, Shattered Nerves Mark Ukraine Truce

Sleeping in cellars, listening nervously for the next artillery attack, and too poor even to flee: welcome to the reality of Ukraine’s ceasefire for residents of rebel-held Makiivka.

In the small town in eastern Ukraine, government forces and insurgents are stationed within kilometres of each other, and there is nothing -- certainly not a week-old truce -- to stop the steady drumming of heavy weapons.

‘The Ukrainians fire on houses, apartments. They say there are terrorists here, but where are they? There is nothing, not a single military position,’ said a pro-Russian insurgent from the self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic, bearing a police badge around his neck and pistol in his belt.

The insurgent, who would only identify himself as Alexander, was interrupted by the thump-thump noise of a multiple rocket launcher. ‘We know what that is,’ he said, conceding that he couldn’t tell whether the shots had come from government or rebel positions.