Involved parties aimed to stop the Ukraine crisis with an amended ceasefire agreement on Saturday but according to reports, it has gotten off with a shaky start as there has been continuous shelling outside the key war zones in Eastern Ukraine despite the deal.

However, the shelling has stopped in most areas of the key conflict zones but the villages around Debaltseve are still peppered with artillery despite the signing of a ceasefire deal.

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According to reports, the mortar attack from the pro-Russian separatists targeted the Ukrainian military as they are battling for control over the government-held Debaltseve. The roads that lead to the town have been blocked by the separatists and the shelling continued until Sunday as other routes leading to the town were heavily bombarded.

According to an unnamed Ukrainian officer, despite the ceasefire deal signed in Minsk after 17 hours of conference among the four leaders, the Ukrainians are still subjected to an onslaught but noted that the key conflict zones have been quieter. He added that the rebels started to fire at them at 6:00 in the morning on Saturday.

On Sunday, it has been reported that at least six Ukrainian military officers have been injured in the shelling and were taken to a nearby hospital. However, there were 40 Ukrainian soldiers estimated to be injured as they have been trapped in Debaltseve due to the blockage set up by rebels in the roads leading out of the town.

The 55^th battalion was able to evacuate them after days of being trapped and they are now being treated.

One of the medics who aided the operation in extricating the trapped soldiers said they were unable to move all of the injured soldiers as there have been heavily decomposed corpses in the area that needed to be moved first. The medic explained that they have to deliver supplies to the area and then bring the wounded out of it.

The medic also added that there were still around 1,000 civilians trapped in the town but they are not being prioritized as there is no area available for them to be transported to.

According to the officials of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the rebels continue to attack the Ukrainian forces in Debaltseve and they seem intent on not following the ceasefire deal until they gain power over the town. 

TagsUkraine crisis, ceasefire, Russia, pro-Russia separatist