Feb 18, Moscow/Kiev (dpa/GNA) – Pro-Russia rebels and the Ukrainian military were once again trading accusations of ceasefire violations on Friday, with fears high the upsurge in violence could spiral out of control amid sky-high tensions between Moscow and Western powers.
The separatists in the two rebel-held areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, part of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region that is dominated by Russian-speakers, said government forces opened fire on their territory overnight.
They alleged that the shelling had intensified since Thursday, and two transformer stations had been damaged. A road had also been closed due to insecurity, they said.
The Ukrainian army, meanwhile, alleged that in recent hours there had been almost two dozen violations of the ceasefire agreed to in 2015 under Franco-German mediation.
The claims could be not be independently verified and it was not initially known whether there were any deaths or injuries.
On Thursday a kindergarten in the government-controlled territory was directly hit by separatist shelling, according to Kiev.
Western powers have warned for weeks that the region could be on the precipice of war due to a massive build-up of Russian troops near Ukraine – and the incident at the kindergarten ignited fears that the situation could escalate quickly and dramatically.
The strike on the school was interpreted by some leaders, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as a strategic provocation in order to prompt a counter-attack by Kiev that would offer Russia a pretext to launch an invasion.
“We have reason to believe that they are engaged in a false-flag operation as an excuse to go in,” US President Joe Biden said on Thursday. “Every indication we have is they’re prepared to go into Ukraine.”
Russia has repeatedly denied having any intention of attacking its neighbour. The government condemns US, NATO and European assessments of the situation as distorted and an attempt to whip up anti-Russia “hysteria.”
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said President, Vladimir Putin, will oversee military drills on Saturday involving the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles, an act sure to be interpreted as provocation in some halls of power.
Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said Russia was being transparent about the exercises, had given notice to all proper channels, and “should not cause anyone concern.”
Putin will monitor the “strategic deterrence force drills” from a situation control centre.
Russia has the second-biggest nuclear arsenal after the United States and holds missile tests several times a year.
A telephone conversation between Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and US counterpart Lloyd Austin is planned for Friday.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sometime next week, a State Department spokesperson said, adding the caveat that the discussion would be called off “if they do invade.”
GNA