UKRAINE-CRISIS/WEAPONS WITHDRAWAL Separatists and government forces withdraw tanks in eastern Ukraine

Record ID: 135727

  • Title: UKRAINE-CRISIS/WEAPONS WITHDRAWAL Separatists and government forces withdraw tanks in eastern Ukraine
  • Date: 21st October 2015
  • Summary: NOVOAZOVSK, UKRAINE (OCTOBER 21, 2015) (REUTERS) SEPARATISTS' TANKS WITH FLAGS OF SELF-PROCLAIMED DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC DRIVING ON ROAD CATERPILLAR TRACKS OF TANK SEPARATIST TANKS WITH FLAG OF SELF-PROCLAIMED DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC DRIVING ON ROAD ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) MONITOR STANDING NEAR VEHICLE OSCE FLAG ON VEHICLE SEPARATIS
  • Embargoed: 5th November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAEFFSZX0P9LQXB1XDTMR9I9G5E
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine's Donetsk region started withdrawing tanks from the frontline near the town of Novoazovsk on Wednesday (October 21) in accordance with agreement reached in Minsk last month.
    Pro-Russian rebels said they were pulling back tanks and military hardware from the conflict separation line for the second day in a row.
    "Today we are working in the south of Donetsk People's Republic (DNR). All steps planned for today were fully carried out. Now we are controlling withdrawal of weaponry. Commander of division will give an order to start the march after which weapons will proceed to the area where they will be verified and stored," said head of Russian armed forces in joint center for ceasefire control, Hasan Koloyev.
    Media were invited to film rebel fighters atop a convoy of tanks being moved as monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) observed the process of withdrawal.
    The agreement reached between pro-Russian separatists and Kiev concerned the withdrawal of tanks, mortars and artillery of less than 100 mm calibre to a distance of 15 km (9.3 miles).
    "The next, second stage will be artillery withdrawal. The third stage is withdrawal of mortars with calibre under 120 mm and artillery under 100 mm. All of this is in accordance with the Minsk agreements. It is planned to complete this process by November 10," said Eduard Basyrin, defence minister of self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.
    Weapons of over 100 mm calibre have already been withdrawn from the frontline in accordance with a ceasefire deal brokered in Minsk in February.
    Ukraine also continued a pull-back of weapons near the city of Debaltseve on Tuesday (October 20).
    Ukraine has 360 tanks in the conflict zone and 1,400 armoured personnel carriers, according to military data published at the end of August.
    "People need to rest. You know, not everyone can stand living in the fields for two years. We would like to believe that it will end peacefully. Many people died. That's why let's hope that it will end," said Ukrainian tank driver who declined to give his name.
    A truce has been largely holding since the start of September, allowing the two sides to extend a pull-back of weapons and raising hopes for a fragile peace process.
    The withdrawal of weapons from the frontline was agreed on condition both sides fully respect the ceasefire.
    Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions has killed more than 8,000 people since mid-April 2014. Russia denies Kiev's and the West's charges of direct involvement in the conflict.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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