Ukraine says no new offensive planned against rebels
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that the government remains committed to the peace process and does not intend to resume full-scale military operation against independence-seeking insurgents.
“Our forces do not plan any offensive, but they are ready to give battle to those who will try to attack us,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Eugene Perebiynis told reporters during a media briefing.
Perebiynis said Kyiv is still committed to the current peace process, which was laid in a ceasefire deal signed with the separatist leadership on Sept. 5 in Minsk. The Ukrainian government forces suspended the offensive against the fighters following the signing of the truce.
As fighting in eastern Ukraine intensified in the recent two weeks, the rival forces traded fresh accusations, with each side blaming the other for carrying the attacks and preparing a fresh military offensive.
Despite the officially declared ceasefire, casualties are reported on a daily basis in the battle zone in eastern part of the country.
Over the past 24 hours, six Ukrainian troops were killed and nine wounded during confrontation with rebels, said Andrei Lysenko, spokesman for the National Security and Defense Council.
More that 4,100 people have been killed and almost 10,000 wounded since the start of the violent conflict in mid-April, when the government launched its military operation against insurgents.