Ukraine Rebels Claim To Have Captured Key Town

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine claim they have taken the key transportation hub of Debaltseve and the epicentre of recent fighting.

Separatist leaders said in remarks carried by the rebel-supporting Donetsk News Agency that their forces pushed the Ukrainian army out of the town.

The claim comes as five Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 14 wounded in clashes between the rebels and government forces.

The rebels have declared they will begin withdrawing heavy weaponry from those areas of the frontline where the cease-fire holds, but this does not appear to include Debaltseve,

The fighting is the latest apparent breach of a fragile ceasefire under which both sides were supposed to pull heavy artillery back from the front line today.

Fighting erupted on the streets inside the town, which until now had been the scene of artillery exchanges between government troops inside and heavily-armed rebels encircling it.

But government and rebel leaders indicated they would withdraw only after the other side does so.

1/23

Gallery: The Town At The Centre Of The Ukraine Conflict

Ukrainian armed forces take up positions near the eastern town of Debaltseve.

A ceasefire came into effect on Sunday, but fighting has continued in Debaltseve, where pro-Russian rebels claim to have surrounded thousands of Ukrainian fighters.

]]>

Buildings damaged by fighting are pictured in the village of Nikishine, south east of Debaltsev

]]>

A convoy of Ukrainian forces drives in the direction of the embattled town, which is a major rail and road junction northeast of the city of Donetsk.

]]>

Pro-Russian rebels stationed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Gorlivka launch missiles towards Ukrainian forces in Debaltseve last week.

]]>

"As soon as the militants cease fire, the Ukrainian side will begin to withdraw heavy weaponry from the frontline," said government military spokesman Anatoliy Stelmakh, who claimed his troops were pounded by the rebels overnight.

Rebel leader Andrei Purgin said the separatists were prepared to discuss withdrawing with the international group monitoring the ceasefire, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Reporting from Ukraine, Sky's Stuart Ramsay said: "Usually these ceasefires completely fall apart within three or four days because the sides are near one another and small arms are involved.

"The OSCE monitors have been trying to get into Debaltseve but so far they've been refused entry by the pro-Russia separatists.

"The rebel leadership have been talking about what they see as a moral responsibility to continue fighting to get to Debaltseve because they say it's inside their territory and not part of the ceasefire plan.

"They want that town because they've been focusing on it and believe they'll be able to get it soon."

The leaders of Ukraine, Russia and Germany discussed the cease-fire in a phone call late last night.

During the call German chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to use his influence on the separatists to ensure that they stop fighting.

Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain

Plumpang Raya