Clashes in east Ukraine kills 45 Kiev trooper, 11 pro-Russians
At least 45 Ukrainian soldiers and 11 pro-Russia fighters have been killed in clashes between the two conflicting sides in the east of the country over the past 24 hours.
Eduard Basurin, the deputy commander of the headquarters of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, said on Sunday that fierce fighting has claimed the lives of 45 Ukrainian troopers and 11 pro-Russian fighters, and left 29 others wounded.
Basurin also said the Ukrainian military losses include “11 tanks, eight of which were destroyed and three were captured… nine units of artillery, 11 cars…”
The official added that Kiev forces continue shelling the Donetsk region from Grad and Smerch rocket launchers.
Clashes in Ukraine’s east intensified in early February as both Ukrainian troops and pro-Russia forces struggled for the control of the strategic government-held town of Debaltseve.
Reviving broken truce deal
Meanwhile, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France are slated to convene in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk to revive an earlier deal inked between the sides involved in the Ukrainian crisis and tamp down the flare up of violence in eastern Ukraine.
On September 5, 2014, the representatives of Ukraine, Russia, and the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk inked a ceasefire deal in Minsk; however, both the Ukrainian military and pro-Russia forces operating in eastern Ukraine have violated the truce almost on daily basis.
Donetsk and Luhansk, located in eastern Ukraine and having mainly Russian-speaking populations, have been the scene of deadly clashes between pro-Russia forces and the Ukrainian army since Kiev’s military operation started in April 2014 in a bid to crush the protests.
Violence intensified in May 2014 after the two flashpoint regions held local referendums in which their residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence from Ukraine and joining the Russian Federation.
The fighting has left more than 5,000 people killed and over 1.5 million displaced, the United Nations says.
HJM/NT/AS
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