Awaiting Ceasefire: Mine Explodes Near Donetsk Leader's Residence

Journalists were awaiting a news conference of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic leader Alexander Zakharchenko in his residence in Donetsk when a mine exploded nearby.

A mine had exploded near the residence of Alexander Zakharchenko, 100 meters away from the journalists who had gathered for a press conference with the leader of the self proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, RIA Novosti correspondent reports.

At least three people have been killed and four injured.

"Bundestag lawmakers were at my residence two hours before this happened. We were nearby when a mine exploded 100 meters away," Alexander Zakharchenko told RIA Novosti.

On Thursday, the Contact Group, comprising envoys from Moscow, Kiev, DPR, self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic and OSCE, signed a peace deal aimed at ending the conflict in southeastern Ukraine. The deal was agreed upon by leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany and Russia after 16-hour talks in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

The measures include a ceasefire between Kiev forces and independence supporters in eastern Ukraine, the creation of a buffer zone between the two sides through the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the region and an all-for-all prisoner exchange.

The ceasefire comes into force at midnight local time on February 15 (February 14, 22:00 GMT).