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| Ukraine crisis: Fierce fighting after Minsk peace deal | Ukraine crisis: Fierce fighting after Minsk peace deal |
| (3 months later) | |
| Intense fighting has been reported in eastern Ukraine, a day after a peace deal was reached in Minsk. | Intense fighting has been reported in eastern Ukraine, a day after a peace deal was reached in Minsk. |
| The fiercest battles were over control of the town of Debaltseve, a strategic town in between rebel-held areas. | The fiercest battles were over control of the town of Debaltseve, a strategic town in between rebel-held areas. |
| The group responsible for monitoring the ceasefire, due to start at midnight on Saturday, says there is still "quite serious live fire" in several areas. | The group responsible for monitoring the ceasefire, due to start at midnight on Saturday, says there is still "quite serious live fire" in several areas. |
| European leaders have warned Russia that it faces additional sanctions if the Minsk agreement is not respected. | European leaders have warned Russia that it faces additional sanctions if the Minsk agreement is not respected. |
| BBC journalists in Donetsk heard new shelling on Friday morning while Russian TV said Luhansk also came under bombardment overnight. | BBC journalists in Donetsk heard new shelling on Friday morning while Russian TV said Luhansk also came under bombardment overnight. |
| But Ukraine's army said the most ferocious fighting centred on Debaltseve, a railway junction where rebels have besieged government troops in a last-ditch effort to win the town. | But Ukraine's army said the most ferocious fighting centred on Debaltseve, a railway junction where rebels have besieged government troops in a last-ditch effort to win the town. |
| "The enemy continues to build up forces in the main areas of the armed conflict. The most tense situation is near Debaltseve," military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters. | "The enemy continues to build up forces in the main areas of the armed conflict. The most tense situation is near Debaltseve," military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters. |
| On Friday, the Ukrainian military said eleven soldiers had died and 40 more wounded in the previous 24 hours, while rebels said seven civilians had been killed. | On Friday, the Ukrainian military said eleven soldiers had died and 40 more wounded in the previous 24 hours, while rebels said seven civilians had been killed. |
| Earlier, two more people died when rebels shelled a cafe in Shchastya, near Luhansk, according to the head of the Kiev-controlled regional administration. | Earlier, two more people died when rebels shelled a cafe in Shchastya, near Luhansk, according to the head of the Kiev-controlled regional administration. |
| A young child was also reported to have been killed when a rocket landed near a school in Artemivsk, a large government-held town near Debaltseve. | A young child was also reported to have been killed when a rocket landed near a school in Artemivsk, a large government-held town near Debaltseve. |
| The new clashes came amid wider doubts about the peace deal agreed following marathon negotiations between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. | The new clashes came amid wider doubts about the peace deal agreed following marathon negotiations between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. |
| Troop movements | Troop movements |
| Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for the OSCE monitoring group, said they were hopeful the deal would be fully implemented, but said things on the ground remained very turbulent. | Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for the OSCE monitoring group, said they were hopeful the deal would be fully implemented, but said things on the ground remained very turbulent. |
| "We feel that the Minsk agreements are really the only available roadmap to a sustainable ceasefire. But now unfortunately... there's quite serious live fire in areas like Luhansk, Debaltseve," he said. | "We feel that the Minsk agreements are really the only available roadmap to a sustainable ceasefire. But now unfortunately... there's quite serious live fire in areas like Luhansk, Debaltseve," he said. |
| He also said monitors had witnessed "significant movements" of unmarked military vehicles and convoys. | He also said monitors had witnessed "significant movements" of unmarked military vehicles and convoys. |
| Pro-Russian rebels signed the peace agreement but key issues remain to be settled - and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned that implementation would be difficult. | Pro-Russian rebels signed the peace agreement but key issues remain to be settled - and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned that implementation would be difficult. |
| A new round of EU asset freezes and travel bans against 19 Ukrainian separatists and Russians - in response to deadly fighting in the city of Mariupol in January - will come into effect on Monday regardless of the latest deal. | A new round of EU asset freezes and travel bans against 19 Ukrainian separatists and Russians - in response to deadly fighting in the city of Mariupol in January - will come into effect on Monday regardless of the latest deal. |
| 'Glimmer of hope' | 'Glimmer of hope' |
| But German Chancellor Angela Merkel says wider measures, including further sanctions on Russia, could be implemented if the ceasefire is not upheld. | But German Chancellor Angela Merkel says wider measures, including further sanctions on Russia, could be implemented if the ceasefire is not upheld. |
| She has called the deal "a glimmer of hope", adding: "It is very important that words are followed by actions." | She has called the deal "a glimmer of hope", adding: "It is very important that words are followed by actions." |
| Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of supplying weapons and personnel to the rebels but Russia denies this. | Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of supplying weapons and personnel to the rebels but Russia denies this. |
| It reaffirmed that denial on Friday, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisting it could only be a "guarantor" because it played no direct role in the conflict. | It reaffirmed that denial on Friday, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisting it could only be a "guarantor" because it played no direct role in the conflict. |
| "[Russia] is not a party that has to take action in this matter. We simply cannot do that physically, because Russia is not a participant in this conflict," he said. | "[Russia] is not a party that has to take action in this matter. We simply cannot do that physically, because Russia is not a participant in this conflict," he said. |
| The latest Minsk agreement includes: | The latest Minsk agreement includes: |
| The truce will be monitored by the OSCE - but with only 412 international monitors in Ukraine, some analysts have expressed doubt that they are there in adequate numbers to do the job. | The truce will be monitored by the OSCE - but with only 412 international monitors in Ukraine, some analysts have expressed doubt that they are there in adequate numbers to do the job. |
| Few in Donetsk expect a sudden and complete end to war, says the BBC's James Reynolds who is there. | Few in Donetsk expect a sudden and complete end to war, says the BBC's James Reynolds who is there. |
| Officials say more than 5,400 people have been killed since the conflict began, but the UN believes the actual death toll to be much higher. | Officials say more than 5,400 people have been killed since the conflict began, but the UN believes the actual death toll to be much higher. |
| There has been a dramatic rise in casualties in recent days, with 263 civilians killed in populated areas between 31 January and 5 February. | There has been a dramatic rise in casualties in recent days, with 263 civilians killed in populated areas between 31 January and 5 February. |
| Correction 12 May 2015: This story has been amended to replace an inaccurate map. | |