Saturday, September 6, 2014

Russia’s double game – artillery attack on Mariupol even as ceasefire is on


The latest round of ceasefire in Ukraine appears to be in jeopardy because, just over a day after it was declared, shelling has been reported near the southeastern port city of Mariupol foxnews.com. This port has been the focus of an offensive by pro-Russian separatists in recent days and has reversed the gains of Ukrainian government forces. These forces had encircled the major rebel-held strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Witnesses have informed about hearing explosions in the eastern part of the city and also of a truck, a gas station, and an industrial facility on fire within the city limits. Moreover, witnesses have seen trucks carrying pro-Kiev militia volunteers, as well as tanks and armored personnel carriers racing in the direction of the eastern part of the city.
A Ukrainian officer has admitted that there has been an artillery attack but there was no details about casualties. The Interior Minister of Ukraine, Arsen Avakov, had accused Russia of violating the cease-fire – as per him, rockets had been fired at Ukrainian positions 16 times from Russian territory.
The ceasefire deal had been signed in the Belarusian capital of Minsk by Ukraine, Russia and the Kremlin-backed separatists. This was an effort to bring to an end more than four months of fighting in the region. The negotiators have, apparently, agreed on the withdrawal of all heavy weaponry, the release of all prisoners and the delivery of humanitarian aid to devastated cities in eastern Ukraine.
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