Kiev Claims Army Withdrew Heavy Weapons From Contact Line in Donbass

Last week, Donbass pro-independence forces accused Kiev of launching an offensive in the town of Marinka, just outside the city of Donetsk. Ukrainian officials later acknowledged that government armed forces had been using heavy weaponry, banned under the peace deal signed in Minsk.

KIEV (Sputnik) — Ukraine’s military pulled back heavy weaponry and over 100-mm caliber artillery from the contact line in Donbass, the head of Kiev’s special operations in eastern Ukraine, Andriy Lysenko, said Friday.

"Ukraine strictly adheres to the Minsk agreements regarding the withdrawal of heavy weapons and over 100-mm caliber artillery systems from the line of contact. At the same time, our artillerymen continue to hone their skills at the new dislocations," Lysenko said.

The Minsk deal was signed by Kiev and independence supporters from Ukraine’s eastern regions in February. The agreement, brokered by Germany, France and Russia, stipulated a ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the contact line.