President Petro Poroshenko said on September 8 that pro-Russian separatists have so far handed over about 1,200 prisoners-of-war to the Ukrainian side under the terms of a cease-fire agreement.
The two sides are meant to exchange all their POWs under the terms of the cease-fire deal, clinched on September 5.
Poroshenko was speaking during a visit to Mariupol, a port city in the east of Ukraine which the rebels advanced towards last week before the ceasefire took effect.
Poroshenko also said he has ordered reinforced defense of Mariupol with tanks, rocket launchers, and aerial defense.
Despite the truce, Ukrainian troops have come under fire from pro-Russian rebels on the eastern edge of Mariupol.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, BBC, and Interfax
From our newsroom:
Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty has urged Ukraine’s government to stop abuses and war crimes by volunteer soldiers who fight alongside government troops in eastern Ukraine.
Shetty made the remarks during a meeting in Kyiv with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on September 8, a day after Amnesty International reported “mounting evidence” of war crimes by both pro-government militia and pro-Russian separatists.
He said Ukraine must not replicate the abuses that have prevailed in areas previously held by separatists.
Shetty singled out “Aidar” -- one of more than 30 volunteer battalions loosely integrated into Ukraine’s security forces.
He said Aidar’s fighters have committed “abductions, unlawful detention, ill-treatment, robbery, extortion, and possible executions.”
Shetty on September 9 and 10 is visiting Moscow, where he plans to urge Russian authorities to practice, ensure, and promote human rights in Russia and abroad.
Via Reuters:
PRESIDENT POROSHENKO SAYS UKRAINE HAS HANDED OVER 1,200 PRISONERS OF WAR TO SEPARATISTS SO FAR UNDER CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT
The deadline has just passed for objections, and none has been published, so it would appear the EU sanctions are on track to go into effect tomorrow.
LATEST: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, speaking in Mariupol, says that Ukraine will not give up its land to anybody and that he has ordered reinforced defense of the key southeastern city with tanks, rocket launchers, and aerial defense.
Dramatic photo taken on the outskirts of Mariupol as it was under shelling by pro-Russian separatists on September 4.
