Ukrainian forces suspend operations as ‘Day of Silence’ begins

Ukrainian forces suspend operations as ‘Day of Silence’ begins

PanARMENIAN.Net - Ukrainian government forces said they had suspended combat operations as a 'Day of Silence' began in the war-torn east on Tuesday, Dec 9, according to Reuters.

"The Ukrainian military have suspended all combat actions and are ready for the Day of Silence, but if separatists attack we will fire in response," a military spokesman said.

The Ukrainians have billed the Day of Silence a litmus test for the readiness of Russian-backed militias to reinforce a ceasefire which was agreed three months ago but which has been regularly breached with almost daily deaths.

If it holds, it could improve prospects for a renewal of peace talks in the Belarusian capital Minsk later this week.

The United Nations says more than 4,300 people have been killed in eight months of conflict which has driven relations between Russia and the West to the lowest since the Cold War.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expected a meeting of the contact group soon. "In the coming days, a meeting of the contact group is planned, in which will be discussed a plan ... with the aim of a final ceasefire," RIA news agency quoted him as saying.

The Kiev military said separatist attacks had continued in the past 24 hours up to the start of the Day of Silence. "In the past 24 hours, the bandits carried out 64 attempted attacks on positions of Ukrainian forces," a military statement said.

Two civilians had been killed and 10 others wounded "as a result of sudden artillery fire by (separatist) fighters on populated areas," it said.

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