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East Ukrainian Militias Accuse Government Troops of Shelling Horlivka

© Sputnik / Go to the mediabankTown of Horlivka after shelling by Ukrainian army
Town of Horlivka after shelling by Ukrainian army - Sputnik International
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Ukrainian government forces on Saturday shelled northern and northwestern suburbs of Horlivka, a contested city on the outskirts of the capital of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), a DPR officer said.

DONETSK (Sputnik) — Both Ukrainian troops and militias have been trading blame for artillery attacks, which come in violation of the Minsk peace agreement, a ceasefire deal that was hammered out in February. The pact called for the warring parties to remove heavy weapons of more than 100mm in caliber from the contact line.

"The fire is currently focused on northern and northwestern outskirts. It appears to come from the direction of Mayorsk [a district to the northwest of Horlivka]," the unnamed officer with the Republic’s Guard told RIA Novosti late Saturday.

Members of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic forces ride on armoured personnel carriers (APC) near the urban settlement of Zaytsevo in Donetsk region, Ukraine, July 20, 2015 - Sputnik International
Donetsk Removing Weapons of Less Than 100mm Caliber From Horlivka

The source said they suspected Ukrainian troops to be shelling the city using howitzers. He added the fire had cut electric power and water supply in parts of the city.

The conflict in southeastern Ukraine erupted in mid-April, 2014, when Kiev launched a military operation to suppress independence supporters in Donetsk and Lugansk who refused to recognize the legitimacy of a new government that came to power following a February coup.

In summer, Horlivka saw fierce fighting as Ukrainian troops sought to tighten their grip on the militia-held city of Donetsk nearby.

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