Separatists to introduce unilateral ceasefire in eastern Ukraine
On the 13th of September, the head of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Aleksandr Zakharchenko, announced the introduction of a unilateral ceasefire.
Separatists have promised to cease shooting from the 15th of September at midnight. A similar statement was made by the head of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), Igor Plotnitsky.
Plotnitsky added that his servicemen are strictly prohibited from returning fire in the event of an attack from the Ukrainian forces. However, Zakharchenko has promised an adequate response if Ukraine violates the truce.
In late August, the Trilateral Contact Group agreed on the introduction of a ceasefire in the conflict zone from the 1st of September as per the initiative of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Participants of the conflict have repeatedly accused each other of provocations and of the resumption of hostilities in the Donbas. According to the Ukrainian Army Headquarters, the positions of Ukrainian forces in the Donbas were shelled 35 times on the 12th of September.