MOSCOW, August 11. /TASS/. Ukrainian government forces have violated the current ceasefire in the country’s east four times over the last 24 hours, the People’s Militia of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic said on Tuesday.
"The ceasefire regime is not observed by Ukraine's armed forces. Four ceasefire violations have been recorded over the past 24 hours," the LuhanskInformCenter quoted a representative of the People’s Militia as saying, adding that territory was attacked by tanks, 120mm-and 82mm-caliber mortars, an SPG-9 recoilless gun and small arms.
A February 12 peace deal struck in Minsk, Belarus, by leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France envisaged a ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and people’s militias starting from February 15.
This was to be followed by withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of military engagement by at least 15 kilometers (9 miles), prisoner release and agreement for international observers to monitor the truce.
Withdrawal was due to start no later than the second day after the truce came into effect, for completion within two weeks.
Buffer zones were to be established of at least 50 kilometers (30 miles) for artillery of 100mm-calibre or more, 70 kilometers for multiple rocket launch systems and 140 kilometers for the heaviest rockets and missiles.
On July 18, the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk announced their plans to unilaterally withdraw tanks and armored vehicles with a calibre of less than 100mm to a distance of at least three kilometers away from the line of military engagement.
The Donetsk republic said at the end of July it had pulled back weaponry of less than 100mm calibre from the contact line, leaving tanks only in "hot spots" to the north of Donetsk and in Debaltsevo. The Luhansk republic also completed the withdrawal of weaponry from the contact line, leaving tanks and armoured vehicles only on positions near the Schastye settlement.