2015-02-17 18:03:00

Ongoing fighting in Ukraine threatens ceasefire


(Vatican Radio) A ceasefire is collapsing in parts of eastern Ukraine with the Ukrainian Ministry saying that a group of its soldiers have been taken prisoner in what has become the epicenter of the fighting.

Listen to Stefan Bos' report: 

Street fighting continued in Debaltseve, a crucial railway hub between the rebel-strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk. On the front lines men didn't had time to bury the human remains of at least one soldier covered by ice and snow.

Pro-Russian rebels claim they have encircled thousands of Ukrainian government troops, but the heavy fighting shows they aren't willing to give up yet.

However Kiev said a group of its soldiers were ambushed and taken prisoner by Russia-backed separatists.  

More bloodshed

More bloodshed was expected as both sides refused to pull back their heavy guns Tuesday, pushing an already fragile peace deal agreed in Minsk last week, closer to collapse.

Reporters also witnessed a huge explosion as mortar fire hit a natural gas pipeline on the outskirts of Debaltseve. They also rushed to help an injured colleague, amid artillery rounds rocking this devastated town every five seconds.

Amid the turmoil, Europe's security OSCE said its monitors in Ukraine were unable to reach Debaltseve. Their deputy chief monitor Alexander Hug says the ceasefire is rapidly collapsing in several areas.

"We have reported that the areas where the ceasefire at the moment is not holding fully or comprehensively is in Donetsk city, in Debaltseve as well as in and around Luhansk," he said.

It's another black page in a war that Ukraine's government now says has left more than 5,500 people dead while at least a million people have been forced to flee destroyed homes and towns.








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