Ukraine rebels warn Kiev over truce around battleground town

Pro-Russian rebels on Saturday warned that any attempts by Kiev forces to move out of the battleground town Debaltseve after the start of a ceasefire would be considered an aggression. Separatist forces have all but encircled government troops inside the strategic railway hub, roughly mid-way between insurgent capital Donetsk and Lugansk. Kiev denies rebel claims that thousands of government troops have been trapped in the town. Donetsk rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko — considered by the West to be a Kremlin puppet — on Saturday warned that any attempt by Ukraine to move its troops out of Debaltseve after the ceasefire would be seen as a violation of the truce.

These attempts will be stopped by us and the enemy will be destroyed.

Donetsk rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko

Meanwhile, ferocious fighting raged in Ukraine as Kiev and the U.S. accused Russia of fueling a rebel onslaught to grab territory in the hours before a truce began. Kiev-loyal regional police chief Vyacheslav Abroskin said constant artillery bombardments were razing the strategic railway hub of Debaltseve, where Ukrainian forces were clinging on. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko declared he would consider imposing martial law if the fighting does not abate in the conflict that has killed more than 5,300 people since April.

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