Ukraine, Russia-Backed Separatists Allege Cease-Fire Violations
- Kyiv, Kremlin express concern about heavy weapons use
- Mortars, artillery often fired in violation of 2015 truce
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Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists blamed each other for what they said was shelling in violation of a cease-fire in the Donbas region Thursday. Both Kyiv and Moscow expressed concern about the apparent uptick in violence.
No deaths were reported and there was no immediate confirmation of the allegations. It wasn’t clear how much of an escalation they may represent in a conflict zone in eastern Ukraine where more than 14,000 have been killed since fighting broke out in 2014. Each side blamed the other for shooting first. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which monitors the line of contact between the two sides, declined to comment on the events pending a regular report due later Thursday.