Ukrainian president ends unilateral ceasefire with vow to ‘free our land’

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said late Monday he would not extend a truce with pro-Russian rebels in the country’s east, vowing instead to go on the attack. Since the ceasefire began on June 20, a total of 27 Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and 69 wounded, a statement tweeted by the foreign ministry said. Poroshenko extended the original week-long ceasefire by 72 hours last Friday at the urging of the West and Russia, but many on the government side say the separatists are using the time to regroup and rearm.

We will attack and free our lands. The decision not to continue the ceasefire is our answer to terrorists, militants and marauders.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

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