Ukraine has called on the world to “stop the aggressor” after Russian-backed separatists claimed to have seized most of a key town in eastern Ukraine, as fighting left a ceasefire deal in tatters.
The loss of Debaltseve, a major road and rail junction between the rebel-held cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, would be a severe blow to Kiev’s pro-western leaders, who are facing fierce domestic criticism for their handling of the insurgency.
The battle for the town also threatens to wreck a truce and framework peace deal agreed by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, which was supposed to start last Saturday night.
Fighting has continued around Debaltseve and near the government-held port of Mariupol, however, and fears are growing that the pact’s failure could trigger a further escalation in a conflict that has killed more than 5,600 people and driven more than one million from their homes.
"This is a cynical attack on the [ceasefire] agreement . . . Today the world should stop the aggressor," Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko told German chancellor Angela Merkel last night.
“I appeal to the permanent members of the United Nations security council to prevent further violations . . . and full-scale military operations in the heart of Europe.”
Valeriy Chaly, the deputy head of Mr Poroshenko’s administration, warned: “The hopes of the world for peace are being destroyed.”
Russian president Vladimir Putin blamed Kiev for the conflict, urged it to negotiate peace with the rebels and said he was broadly satisfied with the ceasefire.
Captured troops
Separatist commander Eduard Basurin claimed yesterday that the rebels “control more than 80 per cent of Debaltseve”.
The separatists said hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered and that thousands of Kiev's troops were surrounded in Debaltseve, where Donetsk militant leader Alexander Zakharchenko was reportedly wounded in the leg.
Government officials admitted that some soldiers had been captured in Debaltseve, but insisted the numbers given by the militants were exaggerated and that the town was not entirely surrounded.
“Street battles are continuing and the rebels are attacking the town in groups with support from artillery and heavy armour,” Ukraine’s defence ministry said in a statement. “Part of the town has been captured by the bandits.”
Kiev officials and the separatists both insist that the ceasefire pact agreed in Minsk, capital of Belarus, gives them possession of Debaltseve.
The insurgents, who appear to receive huge amounts of weaponry ammunition and assistance from Russia, said last night that Ukraine’s forces were massing artillery to try to break the siege of Debaltseve.
“I want to underline, that the militants’ ring is solid . . . So any attempts to break through will be useless and lead only to the mass death of Ukrainian soldiers,” Mr Basurin said.
Western officials insist the truce can be saved, and the four leaders who negotiated it have talked regularly in recent days about problems with implementation.
As well as the battle for Debaltseve, fighting has continued near Mariupol.
Anger is growing in Ukraine over Mr Poroshenko’s handling of the conflict, and pleas for western weapons are intensifying; Washington is considering providing arms, but said yesterday it wanted to avoid a “proxy war” with Russia.
