Ukraine fires mortars on separatist territory in breach of ceasefire, say Russia-backed rebels

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Ukraine government forces have shelled areas within rebel-held territory to the east of the country, a breach of ceasefire agreements designed to bring an end to the conflict, according to Russian state media and Russian-backed separatist groups.

Forces from the Ukrainian side were accused of using mortars, grenade launchers and a machine gun by the representatives of the rebel territory Luhansk People’s Republic in the first signs of ammunition being used in the conflict gripping Europe for more than a month now.

“Armed forces of Ukraine have rudely violated the ceasefire regime, using heavy weapons, which, according to the Minsk agreements, should ben,” the rebel representatives from the Luhansk in the Ukrainian-Russian ceasefire control group said, Russia’s independent news agency Interfax.

Reports of shooting in the disputed region held by rebels of both sides has been common in recent years but Thursday morning’s shell firing could boil over to a larger conflict between Russia and the West.

More than 100,000 Russian troops are standing guard at the borders of the country shares with Ukraine as president Vladimir Putin has demanded that Nato should not allow its former Soviet territory to become a member.

The reports of alleged mortar firing come just hours after the US said Russia is developing false narratives to use as “a pretext” for military action against Ukraine.

“…as we have previously warned, over the past several weeks we have also seen Russian officials and Russian media plant numerous stories in the press, any one of which could be elevated to serve as a pretext for an invasion,” US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday at a press briefing.

“This could happen, we are concerned, at any time, and the world should be ready for it,” the spokesperson said, adding that the claims could be about Ukrainian military activity in the conflict-hit eastern Donbass region.

Russia could also make false claims of US or Nato activities on land, at sea or air, or even claims of Ukrainian or Nato incursions into Russian territory, he said.

“We are particularly concerned about President Putin and other Russian officials, their ongoing mentions of, quote/unquote, “genocide” in the Donbass. There is no basis of truth to any of these claims,” Mr Price said.

The threat of invasion and military action from Russia has not diminished as the West Warning of a growing presence of Russian troops — including an additional 7,000 soldiers being added to the border region in recent days.

Estonian intelligence reports pointed to a movement of battle groups ahead of a likely attack to occupy “key terrain”, in sharp contrast to the Russian defense ministry claims that the country has withdrawn some of its troops from the border region and sent them back to the mainland by train.

Around 10 battle groups of troops are moving towards the Ukrainian border, where it estimates about 170,000 Russian soldiers are already present, said Mikk Marran, director general of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service.

Britain’s intelligence agencies also say that more armoured vehicles, helicopters and a new field hospital have been spotted in the region.

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