Kiev, Donbas Must Avoid Casualties Before Ceasefire – Amnesty International

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Both Ukrainian military forces and Donbas militia should avoid indiscriminate attacks on civilians ahead of a ceasefire deal that will go into effect on Saturday night, Amnesty International said Thursday.

“Because the ceasefire does not enter into effect until Saturday night at midnight, the risk of civilian casualties in continued hostilities is extremely high. Civilians trapped in affected areas like the Debaltseve pocket are at particular risk, as both sides try to gain territory before the fighting is halted,” Amnesty International said in a statement.

Amnesty International said both sides of the conflict had violated the laws of war through indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

On Thursday, the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine struck a deal in the Belarussian capital of Minsk to implement a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine between rebels and Ukrainian government forces that could pave the way for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

The ceasefire will go into effect Saturday night, heavy weapons will be withdrawn over two-weeks starting on February 17, prisoners will be exchanged and foreign forces will be withdrawn from Ukraine, according to the 13-point deal. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will monitor the ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons.

A previous ceasefire agreement sign in Minsk in September broke down as fighting erupted between government forces and rebels. The rebels have expanded areas under their control and nearly encircled the strategic city of Debaltsevo. More than 5,000 people have been killed in nearly 9 months of fighting in eastern Ukraine, according to the United Nations.