Eduard Basurin

Neither Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels have started pulling arms out of the areas of conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

Kiev says the army would not pull back until the siege around Debaltseve ends, whereas the rebels insist the army should leave the beleaguered city which in their opinion is not part of the Minsk agreement.

A shaky truce in Ukraine was already at risk on its second day Feb. 16 with both the Kyiv government and pro-Russian separatists accusing each other of attacks holding up an agreed pull-back of heavy weapons from the frontline.
       

Seven Ukrainian soldiers killed in 24 hours

DONETSK -- Seven Ukrainian soldiers died in the fighting in eastern Ukraine during the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has announced.

24 others have been injured, the AFP agency said.

"Bodies in NATO uniforms" found at Donetsk airport

DONETSK -- The Defense Ministry of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) says that "bodies in NATO uniforms" were found in the Donetsk airport ruins.

Spokesman Eduard Basurin also said that "a great number of U.S.-made weapons" was recovered from under the debris.