New shelling has been
reported in the rebel-held east Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Luhansk,
a day after a peace deal was reached in Minsk.
There are no confirmed reports of casualties. Both cities are
near the front line where the pro-Russian rebels face government
forces.The ceasefire agreed in the Belarusian capital is to begin in eastern Ukraine after midnight (22:00 GMT) on Saturday.
The EU has warned Russia of additional sanctions if the deal is not respected.
BBC journalists in Donetsk heard new shelling on Friday morning, though they said it sounded less intense than in recent days.
Luhansk also came under bombardment overnight.
On Friday morning, a military spokesman in Kiev said eight members of Ukraine's military had been killed in fighting against separatists in the past 24 hours.
The rebels said shelling killed three civilians in Luhansk, reported AFP news agency.
Doubts remain about the peace deal, which was agreed following marathon negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France.
People pass a wall with pictures of Ukrainian soldiers who have died in the conflict in eastern Ukraine in central Kiev
German Chancellor Angela Merkel - whose
tireless shuttle diplomacy on Ukraine many credit with the deal, say
correspondents - has warned that it presents only a "glimmer of hope"
A new round of EU asset freezes and travel bans against 19 Ukrainian separatists and Russians - in response to deadly fighting in the city of Mariupol in January - will come into effect on Monday regardless of the latest deal.
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel says wider measures could be implemented if the ceasefire is not upheld.
She has described the deal as "a glimmer of hope, no more no less. It is very important that words are followed by actions."
- Ceasefire to begin at 00:01 local time on 15 February (22:01 GMT 14 February)
- Heavy weapons to be withdrawn, beginning on 16 February and completed in two weeks
- All prisoners to be released; amnesty for those involved in fighting
- Withdrawal of all foreign troops and weapons from Ukrainian territory. Disarmament of all illegal groups
- Ukraine to allow resumption of normal life in rebel areas, by lifting restrictions
- Constitutional reform to enable decentralisation for rebel regions by the end of 2015
- Ukraine to control border with Russia if conditions met by the end of 2015
No comments