Three militia fighters injured in east Ukraine shelling — Donetsk republic

Three militiamen have been injured over the past 24 hours in shelling of east Ukraine's self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, a local defense ministry spokesman said on Thursday.
Ukrainian military action has violated ceasefire arrangements in the war-torn region some 46 times in 24 hours, spokesman Eduard Basurin recalled, according to a Donetsk News Agency report.
Forces loyal to Kiev continued to use various heavy weapons to shell local residential areas and suburbs, neglecting the Minsk ceasefire agreements, Donetsk News Agency quoted Basurin as saying.
According to the self-proclaimed republic’s defense ministry, its territory was attacked by artillery, tanks and armored combat vehicles. Mortars, grenade launchers and small arms had also opened fire.

Shelling has been recorded near the settlements of Gorlovka, Shirokino, Spartak, Zhabichevo, Sakhanka, Lozovoye, Novaya Maryevka, Altnoye, Oktyabr, Donetsk airport and Volvo-Centre district, the ministry said.
A February 12 peace deal struck in Minsk, Belarus, by leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France envisaged a ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and people’s militias starting from February 15.
This was to be followed by withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of military engagement by at least 15 kilometers (9 miles), prisoner release and agreement for international observers to monitor the truce.
Withdrawal was due to start no later than the second day after the truce came into effect, for completion within two weeks.
Buffer zones were to be established of at least 50 kilometers (30 miles) for artillery of 100mm calibre or more, 70 kilometers for multiple rocket launch systems and 140 kilometers for the heaviest rockets and missiles.