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Developments in eastern Ukraine

East Ukraine militia claim Kiev forces violated ceasefire 66 times over 24 hours

Four people were injured in the shellings

Self-proclaimed Donetsk republic militia fighter during military exercise, March 2015 EPA/TASS/ ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO

Self-proclaimed Donetsk republic militia fighter during military exercise, March 2015

© EPA/TASS/ ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO

MOSCOW, April 13. /TASS/. Ukrainian forces have violated the ceasefire regime in Donbass 66 times over the last 24 hours, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) defense ministry’s press service told the Donetsk News Agency on Monday.

"Over the last 24 hours, settlements were shelled four times from self-propelled guns, seven times - from tanks, six times - from APCs [armored personnel carrier] and IFVs [infantry fighting vehicle], 35 times - from mortars, two times - from anti-aircraft installations, one time - from anti-tank guided missile, 11 times - from small arms and rocket-propelled grenades," the press service said.

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The Ukrainian forces shelled the Donetsk airport, Volvo Center, and settlements of Zhabunki, Spartak, Yasinovataya, Gorlovka, Shirokino, Naberezhnoye, Zhabichevo.

"Four people were injured in the shellings," the press service noted.

The press center of Ukrainian forces’ military operation said in its turn that self-defense forces violated the ceasefire regime 18 times over the last 24 hours.

Ceasefire in Ukraine

On February 12, negotiations in the so-called "Normandy format" were held in the Belarusian capital Minsk, bringing together Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The talks lasted for around 14 hours. Simultaneously, a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukrainian settlement was held in Minsk.

As a result, agreements were signed that envisage ceasefire in Ukraine’s south-east, heavy weaponry withdrawal, prisoner exchange, local elections in Donbas and a constitutional reform in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian forces and militia forces have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire regime.

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Eastern Ukraine

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