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Developments in eastern Ukraine

LPR militia begins withdrawing weapons under 100mm calibre

We are making this step openly and unilaterally hoping the Ukrainian side follows suit, Sergei Kozlov of the People’s militia said

© AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky

MOSCOW, July 19. /TASS/. The self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) begins a unilateral withdrawal from the line of engagement of the weapons under 100-mm calibre, Sergei Kozlov of the People’s militia said on Sunday.

"Following the order from head of the Lugansk People’s Republic Igor Plotnitsky, we begin today a unilateral withdrawal from the line of engagement of the weapons under 100-mm calibre to the distance of at least three kilometres," the LuganskInformCentre quoted him.

"Despite the complicated military and political situation in Ukraine, we are not going to use this advantage and provoke a new circle of conflict," he said. "While demonstrating the adherence to the Minsk agreements, we are making this step openly and unilaterally hoping the Ukrainian side follows suit."

In order to avoid whatever provocations, he said, the withdrawal will be organised in presence of the OSCE mission representatives.

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Eastern Ukraine

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