The Ukrainian military and pro-Russian separatists accused each other yesterday of shelling residential districts of separatist-held Donetsk overnight, the first attack on central parts of the city since a February ceasefire agreement.
Late on Saturday, rebels said the attacks had killed one civilian, destroyed buildings and started several fires in the city following a week of the deadliest fighting in over a month.
More than 6,500 people have been killed since the conflict broke out in eastern Ukraine in April last year.
Attacks have lessened since a peace agreement was brokered in Minsk, Belarus, five months ago, but both sides accuse each other of violations.
Separatists said one man was killed by shelling from Ukrainian forces in central Donetsk.
A Reuters witness reported seeing the body of man in a burning building, though it was unclear if it was the same person.
Ukrainian military observers said they witnessed rebel missile systems “turned towards Donetsk, shelling residential areas of Donetsk, then turning and starting to fire in the direction of Ukrainian positions,” Ukrainian General Andriy Taran said in a televised briefing.
A member of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic forces gestures as he sits with others on an armoured vehicle on the roadside.“The vast majority of shelling and armed attacks by the rebels take place at night to avoid attracting the attention of international observers,” Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said.
He said separatists had focused their attacks on residential areas north-west of rebel-held Donetsk city and that one serviceman, a woman, her granddaughter and a 49-year-old man had been killed.
Military spokesman Serhiy Galushko said the army had intercepted rebel radio traffic that also suggested separatists planned to shell the city.
Senior rebel commander Eduard Basurin denied separatists were responsible for the attacks. “Last time the centre of Donetsk was hit was in February. I have no explanation. The Ukrainian side says we shelled ourselves. Do you believe we can shell ourselves?”
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which is monitoring the ceasefire, has said neither side has fully withdrawn heavy artillery from the frontline as required by the peace deal.
On Friday, the head of the OSCE Ivica Dacic described a worsening humanitarian crisis in the east and urged both sides to adhere to the Minsk agreement, which he said was the only chance to achieve peace.