DONETSK (Sputnik) – A convoy of buses set off from Donetsk Wednesday in yet another attempt to evacuate civilians from the battleground town of Debaltseve, the transport ministry of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) said.
Five buses that were sent to Debaltseve Tuesday had to turn back for safety reasons.
“According to our information, a convoy has already set off for Debaltseve, but as telecoms services are not available in the region at the moment, we do not know their current whereabouts and whether they were able to reach their destination,” a ministry spokesman told RIA Novosti.
Clashes between Kiev forces and eastern Ukrainian independence supporters continue in Debaltseve despite a ceasefire that came into force on February 15 as agreed by international mediators during the Normandy format talks in Minsk.
The evacuation of civilians began in Debaltseve on February 6, but the operation was repeatedly postponed due to continued shelling in the town.
In one of its latest reports, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said that the ceasefire in Donbas is generally being observed, except for Debaltseve area.
