Poroshenko: Kiev to Introduce 'Silence Regime' in East Ukraine December 9

Authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine have also confirmed an agreement with Kiev to cease hostilities in the Donbas region starting December 9.

KIEV, December 4 (Sputnik) — Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Thursday he had decided to introduce a 'silence regime' along the line separating the Kiev-led forces and pro-independence militia in the country's southeast on December 9.

According to Poroshenko, it is a renewed effort to implement a truce between the warring sides brokered by Russia and OSCE on September 5 in the Minsk that has been frequently violated.

Poroshenko met on Thursday with senior military and security officials to discuss the situation in the conflict zone and to outline further steps in line with the Minsk agreements.

Authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine later confirmed an agreement with Kiev to cease all hostilities in the Donbas region starting December 9.

Following a February coup in Kiev, Donetsk and Luhansk residents established people's republics that later declared their independence. The crisis in Ukraine escalated when Kiev authorities launched a military operation against independence supporters in eastern Ukraine in mid-April.

According the latest UN report on human rights in Ukraine, more than 700 people have been killed in the conflict-torn southeast of the country since a ceasefire was agreed back in September.