Ukraine Unable to Remove Heavy Arms from War Zone

iStock/Thinkstock(KIEV, Ukraine) — Ukraine’s military said Monday that heavy artillery can’t be withdrawn from the front lines in its battle with pro-Russia rebels as per a ceasefire agreement until its soldiers stopped getting fired upon.

A chief spokesman for the army told reporters in Kiev that since “the militants continue to shell the positions of our military, it’s impossible for now to speak of pulling back heavy weapons” as per a ceasefire agreement.

This development further complicates the situation in eastern Ukraine one week after a temporary armistice was signed by leaders from Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany.

For the most part, fighting has continued with Ukraine’s military racking up heavy losses, including surrendering the key city of Debaltseve, which separatists use to transfer supplies to the Donetsk region from Russia.

Meanwhile, rebels forces celebrated their victory in Debaltseve Monday with a rally in Donetsk as leaders promised to continue capturing more towns in the east in the ongoing effort to break completely from Kiev and join the Russian Federation.

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