As Ukraine rebels reject cease-fire, Putin orders ‘full combat alert’ in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops in central Russia to be on “full combat alert” Saturday as a new wave of attacks by rebels supportive of his regime placed pressure on a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine. According to Agence France-Presse, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Russian news agencies the order took effect Saturday morning. Putin’s order came about 13 hours after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ordered a ceasefire Friday between his troops and pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country.

There is no ceasefire at all.

prominent rebel leader Pavel Gubarev

Poroshenko’s ceasefire deal was immediately threatened by what the Ukrainian government described as multiple rebel attacks Friday night and Saturday morning. Rebel leaders said Ukrainian troops were the ones ignoring the ceasefire. Putin’s “full combat alert” order also came shortly after Russia beefed up its military presence on the Ukrainian border last week. The Russian chief of the general staff said more than 180 planes and about 60 helicopters would be involved in the “full combat alert” drills.

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