Kiev, rebels trade accusations of ceasefire violations

The Ukrainian army and pro-independence insurgents on Wednesday accused the other of violating the truce that came into the force earlier in the day amid renewed military attacks against each other.

Andriy Lysenko, the Ukrainian military spokesman, said the rebels have violated the newly-declared ceasefire seven times, attacking government positions with small arms and Grad rocket launchers.

Two Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in the attacks over the past day, Lysenko said.

Meanwhile, the insurgent-run DAN news agency said the Ukrainian side has violated the truce four times using artillery of 82-millimeter caliber. It said that residential areas were not affected by the fire.

The insurgents have not commented on their casualties.

The new attempt to enforce a comprehensive ceasefire in eastern Ukraine came after the Contact Group on Ukraine's crisis agreed on Tuesday to establish the "full and unconditional regime of silence" under which the rival sides should completely cease the hostilities.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has began in mid-April 2014, has already claimed the lives of more than 9,000 people.

On Sept. 1, the ceasefire regime was established in the conflict-affected areas that sustained a period of fragile calm, but last month clashes between the warring parties became more frequent, leading to more casualties. Endit