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| Ukraine crisis: Shelling spreads despite ceasefire | Ukraine crisis: Shelling spreads despite ceasefire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Shelling is reported from several places in eastern Ukraine despite the official ceasefire between government forces and pro-Russia rebels. | Shelling is reported from several places in eastern Ukraine despite the official ceasefire between government forces and pro-Russia rebels. |
| Artillery fire could be heard in the region's biggest city, Donetsk, where the truce had been observed so far. | Artillery fire could be heard in the region's biggest city, Donetsk, where the truce had been observed so far. |
| Ukrainian military sources also accused rebels of shelling positions near the port city of Mariupol. | Ukrainian military sources also accused rebels of shelling positions near the port city of Mariupol. |
| The fighting comes as Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany held further talks over the phone. | The fighting comes as Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany held further talks over the phone. |
| Most of the renewed fighting in Donetsk appears to be in the north of the city towards the airport. | |
| The BBC's Ian Pannell, who is in the city, says it sounds like shells are being fired in both directions, although that cannot be verified. | |
| Further south, a spokesman for the Ukrainian government forces said rebel units had attacked the village of Shirokyne, killing one soldier, with shells also fired towards Mariupol. | Further south, a spokesman for the Ukrainian government forces said rebel units had attacked the village of Shirokyne, killing one soldier, with shells also fired towards Mariupol. |
| The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) - which is charged with monitoring the ceasefire - also reported more shelling near the embattled town of Debaltseve which observers have not been able to reach. | The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) - which is charged with monitoring the ceasefire - also reported more shelling near the embattled town of Debaltseve which observers have not been able to reach. |
| The town, a strategic railway hub that links the two rebel-held cities of Luhansk and Donetsk, fell to the rebels on Wednesday. | |
| The continued fighting prompted talks over the phone on Thursday between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany, who negotiated the ceasefire deal in Minsk last week. | |
| The French presidency said afterwards the leaders had called for "the implementation of the full package of measures agreed in Minsk" including a full ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and the release of prisoners. | The French presidency said afterwards the leaders had called for "the implementation of the full package of measures agreed in Minsk" including a full ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and the release of prisoners. |
| A statement issued by the Kremlin stressed the need to ensure a ceasefire and said all sides were ready to support the work of the OSCE mission in Ukraine. | A statement issued by the Kremlin stressed the need to ensure a ceasefire and said all sides were ready to support the work of the OSCE mission in Ukraine. |
| After government forces withdrew from Debaltseve on Wednesday, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko called for a UN-mandated peacekeeping force to enforce the ceasefire. | |
| But Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin denounced the call as a destructive move. | But Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin denounced the call as a destructive move. |
| "It raises suspicions that he wants to destroy the Minsk accords," Mr Churkin said. | "It raises suspicions that he wants to destroy the Minsk accords," Mr Churkin said. |
| And the leadership of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic described the call for peacekeepers as a violation of the Minsk accords. | And the leadership of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic described the call for peacekeepers as a violation of the Minsk accords. |
| Mr Poroshenko had suggested a police mission by the European Union would be the best format for a UN-mandated peacekeeping operation. | Mr Poroshenko had suggested a police mission by the European Union would be the best format for a UN-mandated peacekeeping operation. |
| But speaking on Thursday after talks with EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, Mr Poroshenko said Russia could not be part of any peacekeeping mission. | But speaking on Thursday after talks with EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, Mr Poroshenko said Russia could not be part of any peacekeeping mission. |
| "We view the future mission of the European Union in the framework of the joint security and defence policy as the best option for a peacekeeping operation. At the same time I would like to underscore that Russia, as aggressor, cannot and will not take part in this peacekeeping operation," he said. | "We view the future mission of the European Union in the framework of the joint security and defence policy as the best option for a peacekeeping operation. At the same time I would like to underscore that Russia, as aggressor, cannot and will not take part in this peacekeeping operation," he said. |
| Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent | Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent |
| Could a peacekeeping force help to secure the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine? | Could a peacekeeping force help to secure the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine? |
| Well for a start there would need to be a functioning ceasefire; nobody is going to send troops into an active war zone. Just getting agreement at the UN for such a force might be an insurmountable diplomatic hurdle. | Well for a start there would need to be a functioning ceasefire; nobody is going to send troops into an active war zone. Just getting agreement at the UN for such a force might be an insurmountable diplomatic hurdle. |
| Russia - with a key veto power on the Security Council - is not just an interested bystander. Despite its denials, it is seen by Ukraine and the West as an active participant in the conflict. | Russia - with a key veto power on the Security Council - is not just an interested bystander. Despite its denials, it is seen by Ukraine and the West as an active participant in the conflict. |
| An effective peacekeeping force paradoxically might be in nobody's interests. Peacekeepers tend to fix battle lines in place. In Ukraine both sides probably have further ambitions on the ground. The Russian-backed separatists may well want to advance further and the Ukrainian government's forces certainly aspire to take back territory that they have lost. | An effective peacekeeping force paradoxically might be in nobody's interests. Peacekeepers tend to fix battle lines in place. In Ukraine both sides probably have further ambitions on the ground. The Russian-backed separatists may well want to advance further and the Ukrainian government's forces certainly aspire to take back territory that they have lost. |
| Many experts fear there is a lot more fighting to be done whether this ceasefire is implemented or not. | Many experts fear there is a lot more fighting to be done whether this ceasefire is implemented or not. |
| Mr Poroshenko had described the withdrawal from Debaltseve as organised but admitted at least six soldiers had been killed and more than 100 wounded. At least 80 are reported missing. | Mr Poroshenko had described the withdrawal from Debaltseve as organised but admitted at least six soldiers had been killed and more than 100 wounded. At least 80 are reported missing. |
| Rebel spokesman Eduard Basurin said the town was now "completely under the control" of the separatists, with just "scattered" pockets of resistance that were being "neutralised". | Rebel spokesman Eduard Basurin said the town was now "completely under the control" of the separatists, with just "scattered" pockets of resistance that were being "neutralised". |
| He claimed that more than 300 government soldiers had been taken prisoner. Ukraine's government has admitted some troops were being held. | He claimed that more than 300 government soldiers had been taken prisoner. Ukraine's government has admitted some troops were being held. |
| Minsk agreement: Key points | Minsk agreement: Key points |
| Do you live in eastern Ukraine or have friends and family in the region? What do you think about the recent developments? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Do you live in eastern Ukraine or have friends and family in the region? What do you think about the recent developments? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Please include a contact number if you wish to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Please include a contact number if you wish to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |
| Have your say | Have your say |