KIEV, Ukraine
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Monday that pro-Russian Separatist attacks are continuing in eastern Ukraine city of Debaltseve.
In a statement issued by his office, Poroshenko warned that continuing attacks around the city threatened the cease-fire.
At least 16 people have died in the fighting around the city, where the cease-fire does not seem to have taken effect.
But pro-Russian rebel commander Eduard Basurin told Interfax that separatist fighters would not observe the truce in Debaltseve, where thousands of Ukraine troops are reportedly encircled by rebel fighters.
Basurin said that the cease-fire "did not apply" in "our territory" (referring to Debaltseve).
Debaltseve is a key railway hub for Ukraine, and the country cannot maintain its coal supply should it be taken.
The head of Ukraine's security service, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko said in a press conference on Monday there has also been shelling attacks on Sunday in the Luhansk region.
Ukrainian Ambassador: We will respond to Debaltseve attacks
Ukrainian forces will respond to pro-Russian separatist attacks on the eastern Ukraine city of Debaltseve, Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Sergiy Korsunsky told The Anadolu Agency on Monday.
“The rebel forces have claimed a ‘right’ to the town of Debaltseve; this is nonsense, the cease-fire agreement does not exclude any specific area,” Korsunsky said.
A pro-Russian separatist official said on Sunday that the cease-fire won’t apply to the town, referring to it as “our territory.” At least 16 people have been killed in the fighting at Debaltseve since the cease-fire came into force.
Russian-backed forces renewed artillery fire on residential buildings and infrastructure in Debaltseve on Monday and hit the town’s police station, Donetsk regional police chief Vyacheslav Abroskin told the press.
“Debaltseve was in the hands of Ukrainian troops at the time of the cease-fire. Therefore it should remain in Ukrainian hands,” Korsunsky said. The cease-fire agreement does not mention Debaltseve or any other specific region – all fighting is to stop, Korsunsky pointed out.
“The terrorist commanders should have issued orders to stop all fighting in the area.”
But Korsunsky explained that Ukrainian response to the rebel “provocation” would be restrained.
“The Ukrainian response to terrorist provocation in Debaltseve will be restrained; we will not use heavy arms as we do not wish to be blamed for an escalation.”
Korsunsky said that Ukraine would honor the cease-fire agreement at Debaltseve as soon as rebels stood down. “We are ready to pull down our heavy arms as the cease-fire agreement mandates.”
Ukrainian political response to the cease-fire agreement would not be long in coming, Korsunsky indicated.
The Ukrainian parliament is not in session, “but will provide a package implementing the cease-fire agreement and the IMF funding offer when it returns in two weeks,” he said.
