Ukraine is starting to withdraw heavy artillery from the front line in the east as part of the truce that was supposed to stop the fighting on February 15. The pullout of 100 millimeter calibre weapons takes place two days after the rebels began their retreat, although the pro-Russian’s claim has not been verified by monitors.
Kiev kept its weapons on the front arguing that fighting had not yet ceased, according to Reuters.
The withdrawal of artillery is the second point of the agreement reached in Minsk on February 12, the first point being the ceasefire itself, and it comes after two straight days without any fatalities. This is the first time no troops have been killed since long before the truce. Now, both government forces and the rebels must pullout and create a buffer zone of at least 50km (30 miles). The moves will be monitored by observers from the OSCE.
“The Ukrainian side demands a full ceasefire and immediate implementation of the Minsk agreement by all signatories. In the event of any attempted offensive, the schedule for withdrawal can be reviewed. Ukrainian forces are fully prepared to defend the country,” the military said in a statement.
The rebels initially ignored the truce last week and seized the key town of Debaltseve after one of the biggest battles of the war. In the next days, Kiev believed the rebels were preparing for another advance, possibly the city of Mariupol, a port of 500,000 people, and the Western countries threatened to impose new economic sanctions on Russia if the rebels advance any further.
The fighting in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk started last April, a month after Russia annexed Crimea. UN estimates that 5,800 people has been killed, but the real figure could be much higher. Although Moscow denies its involvement, the Ukrainian government, Western countries and NATO see clear evidence that Russia is helping the separatists with heavy weapons and soldiers.