US warns separatists in Ukraine from seizing new territories

A senior US government official warned pro-Russian separatists of seizing new territories in eastern Ukraine until Sunday, when it should take effect. ceasefire agreement.

“We are trying to send the strongest signal that any attempt to seize new territories from now until Saturday evening will seriously undermine this agreement and strongly warn against this,” an official speaking on condition of anonymity told reporters.

Despite the peace agreement reached and the upcoming dates for the introduction of a cease-fire, the Ukrainian authorities said on Friday that 11 soldiers had been killed and 40 had been injured over the past night.

The Interfax-Ukraine news agency quotes the representative of the general staff of the Ukrainian army, Vladislav Seleznev, who said that significant clashes had taken place in Debaltseve, a key transportation hub that had become the center of fierce fighting in recent days.

The military’s loss data refers to the 24 hour period ending at 6 in the morning local time.

According to the municipal authorities of Donetsk, which is under the control of the separatists, over the past 14 hours, XNUMX people were injured as a result of clashes, writes Voice of America.