Ukraine cease-fire fails

In Ukraine, a UN- and Russia-backed cease-fire deal between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian rebels failed to hold.

The agreement, signed on Feb. 12, called for a complete cease-fire in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, a withdrawal of artillery and missile weaponry from conflict zones, a prisoner exchange and new elections. The elections would take into consideration more autonomy for areas of eastern Ukraine.

Despite the cease-fire, rebel forces engaged Ukrainian soldiers in the town of Debaltseve, forcing the Ukrainian army to retreat on Feb. 18. Rebel spokespersons reported that over a hundred Ukrainian soldiers had been captured, but this was denied by the Ukrainian government.

Artillery fire between Ukrainian and rebel forces continued as of press time, most heavily in the rebel-held city of Donetsk and the Ukrainian-held city of Mariupol. European and NATO countries and the US have accused Russia of supplying arms and troops to the rebels in eastern Ukraine, which Russia denies.