Kiev, insurgents start second phase of weapons withdrawal

The Ukrainian army and pro-independence insurgents said Tuesday that they have begun the second phase of pulling back their heavy weapons from the front line in eastern Ukraine.

"The second stage of withdrawal of tanks, artillery of less than 100 millimeters of caliber and mortars with caliber of up to 120 millimeters has began," government military spokesman Leonid Matyukhin told a media briefing.

Meanwhile, the self-styled defense ministry of the self-claimed Donetsk republic said that the pullback, which has started in the direction of Debaltsevo town in Donetsk region, was well under way.

"The withdrawal of weapons is proceeding according to plan," the self-styled defense ministry said in a statement.

The second stage of withdrawal, which envisages weapons pulled back to a distance of at least 15 km from the contact line in Donetsk region, is due to be completed within 14 days.

The first phase of the pullout, which started in the neighboring Lugansk region on Oct. 3, was completed last week.

The conflicting sides have already withdrawn the artillery of over 100 mm of calibre from the boundary line in accordance with a peace plan agreed in Minsk, capital of Belarus.

Almost 8,000 people have been killed and around 17,800 others wounded since the confrontation started in April 2014 in eastern Ukraine.

On Sept. 1, a comprehensive cease-fire was established in the restive areas, which brought peace to the conflict-torn region. Endi