OSCE accesses Debaltseve while prisoners swapped, orders signed to retreat weapons

Photo: presstv.ir

Days after failing to enter the Debaltseve town, the OSCE mission team finally got access to the town and could enter under security to assess the ground situation in the town. As the access to this strategic transport town was procured, the mission’s head made it official.

Ever since the combat was reported on the day the ceasefire had come into existence recently in the Eastern Ukraine, the OSCE mission team was attempting to enter into and review the situation.

The team, on Saturday, entered the town with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Several trucks with food and medical supplies were directed to the area.

 Prisoners released, exchanged:

Meanwhile, Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian’s freed, released and exchanged dozen of prisoners in eastern Ukraine, a news confirmed by a Ukrainian Security Council aide. Reuters reporters in the village of Zholobok, 20 km (12 miles) west of the rebel stronghold of Luhansk, saw more than 130 Ukrainian servicemen being released late on Saturday evening in exchange for 52 rebel fighters.

This was an initial action undertaken to ensure the implementation of the Minsk Ceasefire Deal reached on February the 12^th, in the Belarussian capital, following a meeting between French, German, Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

Agreement on pulling out weapons:

Pro-Russian rebels in the Eastern Ukraine on Saturday, agreed to withdraw heavy weapons from the war zone. The orders were signed by the pro-Russian rebels, who have settled on to conclude the retreatment over the next two weeks, commencing from Sunday.

The terrible battle has alleviated, but not stopped completely, though attempts are on, to do so.

Ever since the combatting began last year in April, in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, nearly 5,700 people have lost their lives, according to figures provided by the UN. The combat followed Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s southern Crimea peninsula.

(With inputs from Reuters, BBC and RT)

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About Suyash Karangutkar

Suyash Karangutkar is a young, dedicated and an enthusiastic journalist who has a deep interest in National and International Affairs. He is an ardent political spectator who finds politics fascinating. At Spectralhues, he heads the Mumbai team and covers National Affairs & Politics. He also occasionally writes columns for Spectralhues. He can be followed on Twitter @columnistsuyash