Fresh clashes reported in eastern Ukraine
Kyiv, Oct 16 (IANS/EFE): The Ukrainian military command Thursday reported fresh clashes in the east of the country and accused pro-Russian separatists of breaching the ceasefire agreement signed Sep 5 in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.
A military statement said rebel militias Wednesday shelled army positions in the towns of Debaltsevo, Chernigov, Redkodub, Avdeyevka and Granitne.
Government forces also repelled a rebel assault on the airport in Donetsk city, the main separatist stronghold in eastern Ukraine, the statement said.
Ukrainian forces did not suffer casualties during Wednesday’s fighting.
The pro-Russian separatists have violated the truce more than 1,400 times, causing the deaths of 68 soldiers and 52 civilians, according to the Ukrainian foreign ministry.
A total of 3,660 people have died in eastern Ukraine since the outbreak of the armed conflict between Kyiv and the separatists, according to the latest report from the Office of Human Rights of the UN.