Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed in combat in the east and another has gone missing in action just two weeks on from the newly reached and greatly applauded ceasefire in the Donbas.
Another
two soldiers were wounded, according to presidential spokesman Andriy Lysenko,
who announced the news at a briefing in Kyiv on Sept. 14.
The
press service for the Defense Ministry’s headquarters in the east also
announced on Sept. 14 that Russian-backed separatists had violated the
ceasefire eight times overnight, returning to the use of heavy weaponry.
Ukrainian
positions near the village of Schastye came under attack by grenade launchers,
and positions in Sokolniki were hit by mortar fire, according to the press
service’s statement.
The
ceasefire that came into effect on Sept. 1 had greatly reduced fighting in the
east, with Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak saying last week that
fighting had fallen to its lowest level since the conflict began.
Although
a ceasefire was initially reached in February, both sides continued fighting
until early September, when all parties agreed to finally stop firing.
International
leaders had welcomed the positive results of the newly reached ceasefire.
OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier earlier said
it was “good news” that the ceasefire had been holding for more than 10 days.
On Sept. 12, Zannier praised the ceasefire’s
implementation, saying it would allow for “progress on a political level” in
resolving the conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin echoed that sentiment
in comments to Russian media on Sept. 12, calling the ceasefire a “main
achievement.”
Ukrainian
President Petro Poroshenko was not so quick to call the ceasefire a success,
however.
Poroshenko
expressed “cautious optimism” about it at the Yes Forum in Kyiv on Sept. 11,
noting that while fighting had declined, Russian soldiers and equipment remained
on Ukrainian territory.
Staff
writer Allison Quinn can be reached at [email protected]
