RFE/RL – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Ukrainian Military: Serviceman Killed Despite Cease-Fire

March 08, 2015

Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said on March 8 that one Ukrainian serviceman has been killed and three wounded in fighting in separatist eastern territories in the past 24 hours, despite a cease-fire deal.

Lysenko said that pro-Russian rebels "continue to fire on government troop positions...[but] the intensity of provocative attacks by rebels on Ukrainian positions fell significantly overnight."

On March 7, pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine said they had completed an agreed withdrawal of heavy weapons in line with recent cease-fire deals.
 
Lysenko said March 7 government forces are continuing to withdraw heavy weapons from the line of contact but are ready to return them to combat positions at any moment.

In cease-fire accords in September and February, the two sides agreed to form a buffer zone from 50 to 140 kilometers, depending on the range of the weapons.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP