Uneasy calm holds in eastern Ukraine after ceasefire

DONESTSK/MARIUPOL:  A ceasefire struck between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine was largely holding on Saturday, though residents and combatants said it was likely to prove a brief interlude before renewed fighting.
Underlining the fragility of the truce, approved yesterday by envoys from Ukraine, the separatist leadership, Russia and the OSCE security watchdog, some residents in rebel-held Donetsk reported sporadic shelling overnight on the city outskirts.
“It is looking good for now but we know they (the Ukrainian side) are only using it to bring in more forces here and ammunition and then to hit us with renewed strength,” said one rebel commander known by his nickname Montana.
“Come what may, I would not trust (Ukraine’s President Petro) Poroshenko. And it’s not him making the call anyway but the Americans and that is even worse.”
Poroshenko agreed to the ceasefire after Ukraine accused Russia of sending troops and arms onto its territory in support of the separatists, who had suffered big losses over the summer. Moscow denies sending troops or arming the rebels.
The truce has raised hopes of an end to fighting that has caused the worst standoff between Moscow and the West since the Cold War ended. But US President Barack Obama, who has also accused Russia of involvement, said yesterday he was sceptical the separatists would follow through.
A Donetsk resident, Ksenia, said she had heard some shooting overnight after the ceasefire had come into effect.
“I don’t know what ceasefire we are talking of if there was shooting again. This is no ceasefire but a theatre. This war will go on for five to nine years. Slavs are killing Slavs, there can be nothing worse than that,” she said.
Dmytro Tymchuk, a defence analyst with links to government forces, accused the rebels of violating the ceasefire at various sites around the region, adding: “The Ukrainian forces are fully observing the conditions of the ceasefire and only open fire when their positions come under attack.”
All was quiet in and around the port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov, the scene of fierce fighting yesterday.
“Many of my men had their first good sleep in days,” said one Ukrainian army officer. “I certainly slept well.”
Fighting had raged in recent days both on the outskirts of Donetsk, especially near the airport, which remains in government hands, and to the east of the port of Mariupol, where government forces were holding off a major rebel offensive.
The peace plan approved by envoys in Minsk yesterday also includes an exchange of prisoners and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor for refugees and aid. (PTI)