No casualties reported in E. Ukraine amid newly-declared truce

There were no reports of casualties in the restive eastern Ukraine in the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian military authorities said Tuesday.

"The situation in Donetsk and Lugansk regions is basically calm," government military spokesman Olexandr Motuzyanyk said.

Over the past day, there was no report about the use of heavy weapons, such as artillery, mortars and grenade launchers along the entire frontline, the spokesman said, adding that pro-independence rebels fired from small arms against Ukrainian positions about 10 times.

Meanwhile, Eduard Basurin, a senior insurgent commander, confirmed that the ceasefire in Donetsk and Lugansk regions was largely held, despite sporadic violations.

"There have been cases of ceasefire violations by the Ukrainian units, which defiantly refused to follow orders of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on observing the truce," Basurin said.

The lull at the frontline in eastern Ukraine came after last Wednesday the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine crisis, involving Kiev and rebel representatives, agreed to start a complete ceasefire in the restive areas starting from Sept. 1. Endi