Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russian rebels break ceasefire within just hours as shelling continues

RUSSIAN separatists broke a ceasefire in Ukraine within hours of it taking effect, in a town which has seen the worst fighting in recent weeks.

Russian rebels continue shelling in east UkraineGETTY

Pro-Russian rebels continued shelling in east Ukraine despite a ceasefire

Rebels said the ceasefire does not apply in the eastern Ukraine town of Debaltseve and said it could open fire in the town as it is “our territory”.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is to monitor the ceasefire as part of the agreement, said it was trying to oversee the area but the rebels refused.

OSCE mission chief Ertugrul Apakan said in an online briefing that the truce which began at midnight was largely being observed across eastern Ukraine. But he said Debaltseve and the rebel stronghold of Luhansk were exceptions where shooting continued.

Weapons fell silent from midnight local time today after a week of thrashing out a truce agreement led by France and Germany.

But senior Russian rebel commander Eduard Basurin said: "Of course we can open fire (on Debaltseve). It is our territory.

Ukraine's military said the truce was in general being observedREUTERS

Ukraine's military said the truce was in general being observed

The territory is internal: ours. And internal is internal.

Eduard Basurin, Russian rebel commander

"The territory is internal: ours. And internal is internal. But along the line of confrontation there is no shooting."

Ukraine said that it had been shelled 10 times in “localised” incidents, but the ceasefire was being generally observed.

Ukraine and Russia have agreed to withdraw heavy weapons and create a neutral buffer zone.

The Ukrainian military said nine of its soldiers had been killed on Saturday but none since the truce took effect.

A Ukrainian staff officer stationed near Debaltseve said: "The general level (of attacks) has decreased, although there are violations."

Member of the Ukrainian army not far from Debaltseve,REUTERS

The ceasefire came into force at midnight on Sunday

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said there was still alarm over the situation around Debaltseve.

The town is a railway link between the main separatist-held cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Regular shelling was still being heard today from Luhanske, a town about 9 miles to the northwest. 

More than 5,000 people have been killed in a conflict that has caused the worst crisis in Russia-West relations since the Cold War.

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