DPR Militia Records 7 Donbas Truce Breaches By Kiev Forces Over Past 24 Hours

The Ukrainian forces have violated ceasefire in Donbas seven times over the past 24 hours, a representative of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) said on Saturday

DONETSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th April, 2019) The Ukrainian forces have violated ceasefire in Donbas seven times over the past 24 hours, a representative of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) said on Saturday.

"Over the past day, there were a total of seven violations by the Ukrainian Armed Forces," the DPR representative said, adding that the Ukrainian security forces used heavy artillery.

In 2014, Kiev launched a military operation against the DPR and its neighboring Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) after they proclaimed independence from Ukraine, refusing to recognize the new central government.

In 2015, a ceasefire deal was signed between conflicting sides in Minsk following talks brokered by the leaders of the so-called Normandy group: Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine. Despite this agreement, sporadic fighting continues in Donbas. To date, the situation remains tense, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.