Kiev accused rebels of trying to seize as much territory as possible before both sides are due to halt fighting.
Fighting in war-torn eastern Ukraine escalated Saturday as separatist fighters attempted to seize as much territory as possible before a midnight ceasefire was due to take effect, according to the government in Kiev.
Ukrainian servicemen ride on a tank near Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine, on Feb. 14, 2015.
REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
"Ahead of midnight, rebels are trying to complete tactically important plans to enlarge the territory under their control, primarily in the direction of Debaltseve," military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters Saturday, in comments translated by Reuters.
The strategically important rail-hub city of Debaltseve in the Donetsk region has been at the center of fierce fighting in recent weeks between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists.
A peace deal signed on Thursday in the Belarusian capital Minsk by Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany is set to take effect at midnight, with both sides in the conflict required to withdraw heavy weapons and create a neutral zone.
However, heavy shelling was reported at a rebel checkpoint some 10 kilometers outside Debaltseve in the lead-up to the ceasefire, according to Reuters.
"The militants are destroying Debaltseve," Donetsk region police chief Vyacheslav Abroskin was quoted as saying by the BBC.
"The shelling of residential areas and civilian buildings continue. The city is on fire. There has been a direct hit from Grads [rockets] on the city police station."
SOURCE: BuzzFeed
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