Shelling in eastern Ukraine’s rebel-held eastern regions killed five people over the past 24 hours, local authorities said Saturday, in the latest deadly violations of a ceasefire.
“As a result of military actions in Donetsk on October 10, three civilians died and four more were injured and hospitalised,” said the mayor’s office in Donetsk, the largest eastern city.
All but completely controlled by the pro-Russian separatists, Donetsk has come under increased crossfire in recent days as rebels and the Ukrainian army battle over its airport.
Another victim was an elderly man killed by a shell that hit his house near the town of Popasne in the Lugansk region, the pro-Kiev governor of the region, Gennadiy Moskal, said on his website.
The Ukrainian army said Saturday that its positions had been attacked overnight in Donetsk and Lugansk regions.
One border guard was killed about 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Donetsk when a convoy of border guards was fired upon, military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said Saturday.
More than 300 people have died since a ceasefire was signed September 5, according to the United Nations. The Ukrainian authorities report 120 dead civilians and Ukrainian troops, without including rebel casualties.
Under the truce, both sides must pull back heavy artillery by 15 kilometres, creating a 30-kilometre wide demilitarised zone. However, that has yet to happen, especially around Donetsk international airport, where Ukrainian units have held out against rebel attacks since May.
Lysenko said the “intensity of attacks appears to have subsided” and that Kiev was waiting for rebels to remove their artillery.
“We are ready to withdraw heavy weaponry as it was agreed in the Minsk deal,” Lysenko told journalists. “We have prepared all territories and routes but we are waiting for the terrorist side to do this.”
Donetsk rebels say they are ready for a withdrawal — but again, only if the other side fulfills its side.
“Starting from 9:00 am (0600 GMT Saturday) there will be a no shooting period between Ukraine and the Donetsk People’s Republic. If it is not violated for five days, the withdrawal of troops from the 30-kilometre zone will begin,” the official website of Donetsk rebels said Saturday.
Donetsk rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko said this week that an agreement between the separatists and Kiev commanders will see the Ukrainian army cede some villages it still holds in the region to begin creating a demilitarised zone.
Ukraine’s military have denied any reports of an agreement with the separatists about surrendering any territory.