Soldiers’ deaths rattle Ukraine truce

Isolated clashes were reported in eastern Ukraine yesterday, where government forces reported three soldiers killed, despite a truce with pro-Russian rebels appearing to take hold.

After two days in which neither side had reported any casualties, Kiev said three troops died and seven others were wounded in the past 24 hours, highlighting the fragility of the February 12 peace deal.

Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said that the fighting had halted along most of the front line but there were still clashes in villages around the ruins of Donetsk airport, one of the most fought-over prizes in the conflict, which fell to the rebels last month.

UN discussions

The latest skirmishes came as the UN geared up to discuss the conflict exactly one year after Russia began seizing ports and cities on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. A year on, the West is hoping the UN-backed truce deal negotiated by Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France in Minsk can prevent a further escalation.

After an initial setback, caused by a rebel assault on the transport hub of Debaltseve, the deal appeared to be gaining traction this week.

Both sides said they were continuing to withdraw heavy weapons from along the front line, a key part of the plan to end ten months of bloodshed.