Ukrainian Forces Violate Ceasefire Over 20 Times, 3 People Killed: Donetsk

Donetsk representatives accuse Kiev of violating the ceasefire agreement and strengthening positions. As a result, three people have been killed and nine wounded.

DONETSK, January 2 (Sputnik) – Donetsk independence supporters have said Friday that a ceasefire agreement was violated by the Ukrainian forces in Donbas more than 20 times during the past 24 hours, with three people killed as a result of shelling.

"During the past 24 hours the situation [in Donbas] has not changed significantly and remains tense. Ukrainian forces systematically shell militia's positions and take measures to strengthen their own positions, which violates the ceasefire agreements. The truce has been violated by the Ukrainian Army more than 20 times," the representatives of Donetsk said.

Apart from that, the representatives stated that three people, including two civilians, were killed as a result of shelling by the Ukrainian army and nine militia members were injured.

A ceasefire agreement was reached between the warring parties in September 2014, as a result of the meeting of the so-called Contact Group on resolving Ukrainian crisis in Belarusian capital Minsk.

In early December 2014, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced a "silence regime" in the country's southeast. The move was yet another effort to implement a truce in the region.

Both sides, however, repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreements.