The heads of the two republics hope this step will be an
example for Ukraine.
LUGANSK/DONETSK, September 13. /TASS/. Heads of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics Alexander Zakharchenko and Igor Plotnitsky have prohibited their military units to open fire in response to provocations from Kiev-controlled forces.
"I have given the appropriate instructions, to establish a ceasefire as of midnight on September 15, 2016,"
Plotnitsky said in a statement posted on the website of the Luganskinformtsentr news agency. "All People’s Militia units of the Lugansk People’s Republic are strictly forbidden to open fire in response to artillery bombardments and provocations from the Ukrainian army and National Guard.
For his part, the DPR head said he issued similar
decrees. "We fully comply with the Minsk agreements," he told the
Rossiya 24 TV channel. "We see this as a goodwill gesture rather than
weakness."
The heads of the two republics expressed the hope that
this step will be an example for the Ukrainian leadership.
"We call on
OSCE observers to conduct real and impartial monitoring of compliance with the
cessation of hostilities," the statement said.
Members of the Contact Group on the settlement in
eastern Ukraine agreed at an August 26 meeting in Minsk on a continuous
ceasefire on the line of contact in Donbass as of September 1, the ninth one
since the autumn 2014 agreement. However, the parties to the conflict continue
to accuse each other of violating the truce.
Source: ITAR-TASS 14-09-2016
