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Shelling ceases as truce takes effect in Donetsk — DPR command

Currently, the situation near the line of contact is calm," a DPR operations command spokesperson said

© Mikhail Sokolov/TASS

DONETSK, July 1. /TASS/. The Armed Forces of Ukraine ceased their shelling of the Donetsk People’s Republic after the ceasefire took effect at midnight local time, the operations command of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic said early on Sunday.

"At midnight, shelling from positions held by the Ukrainian troops was ceased. Currently, the situation near the line of contact is calm," a DPR operations command spokesperson told the Donetsk News Agency. "Another ceasefire has come into force. We are watching the situation."

"The command of the armed forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic supports the agreements, reached during a Contact Group meeting in Minsk. We are ready to observe the ‘bread ceasefire.’ Strict observance of the truce was ordered to all units and all commanders," the spokesperson added.

The Contact Group for settling the crisis in Ukraine’s east declared another ceasefire at a meeting in Minsk on June 27. The sides pledge to start implementing it amid the beginning of the harvest season.

The command of the Kiev government’s United Forces Operation in Donbass said the Ukrainian military would observe its commitments.

"In line with the Contact Group’s decision to announce a ceasefire along the 426-km contact line for the two summer months starting from July 1, the United Forces announce that its personnel will strictly observe this decision," the United Forces Operation command said in a statement on its Facebook page.

Similar orders were issued by the governments of the self-proclaimed people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.

Hours before the ceasefire took effect, officials from the self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk (DPR and LPR) said the shelling by the Kiev troops has intensified.

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