Ukraine suspended operations on Sunday at one of seven checkpoints on the ground in the Russian-backed separatist region of Donbass due to heavy bombardment, the Ukrainian military said, according to Reuters.
The number of bombings along the line separating government forces and separatists has risen sharply in the past week, with the Ukrainian government calling it a provocation. Kiev’s Western allies say Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine and are worried that the escalation could be used as a pretext.
Russia has denied any plans to attack its neighbor, while Ukraine has vehemently denied Moscow’s claims that Kiev could launch an attack on eastern Ukraine.
The separatists attacked the Schastya checkpoint three times on Saturday, using mortars and heavy anti-tank grenade launchers, as separatist ceasefire violations along the border increased to 136 from 66 on Friday, the army said on its Facebook page.
Two Ukrainian soldiers were reported killed and four wounded Saturday.
Taking into account “the escalation of the situation … and the inability to guarantee the safety of the civilian population” used by the checkpoint, the administration suspends its use from 8 p.m. (local time) on Sunday “for the period of threat”, the army said.
Separatist officials accused Ukraine on the social networking site Telegram of bombing separatist-controlled areas and said they should respond accordingly.
Source: Capital
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