And here's a video from behind rebel lines in Ukraine courtesy of RFE/RL's Current Time TV program:
Britain has released images of Russian weapons in eastern Ukraine:
The British government has released photos of what it describes as Russia's most advanced antiaircraft artillery being operated in eastern Ukraine -- the truck-mounted SA-22 surface-to-air missile system.
Britain's Foreign Office said on February 18 that the photographs of the SA-22 -- also known as the Pantsir-S1 -- are further evidence that Russia's military is directly supporting separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine.
The weaponry is not operated by Ukrainian forces and could not have been seized by separatists from Ukraine’s military.
A timeline on the photos shows the weapons in Shakhtarsk on January 24 and February 5 as well as in Dontesk on February 4.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on February 18 that "Russian forces, artillery, and air defense units as well as command and control elements are still active in Ukraine."
Britain’s ambassador to NATO, Adam Thomson, called on Russia to fully implement its commitments under a new cease-fire agreement reached in Minsk.
Russia denies it has sent soldiers and heavy weaponry into eastern Ukraine.
Washington accuses Moscow of exploiting the Ukraine cease-fire:
Washington has accused Moscow of cynically exploiting an internationally backed cease-fire deal for eastern Ukraine by supporting a fierce assault by pro-Russian separatists who seized the strategic town of Debaltseve.
The White House said on February 18 that Russia has failed to live up to terms of a new cease-fire deal reached in Minsk and is "at risk of greater costs," such as further sanctions.
The U.S. State Department said it did not consider the cease-fire "dead," but expressed concern about ongoing violence.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on February 18 urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to stop attacks by Russian troops and separatist fighters against Ukrainian government troops.
The statements follow the withdrawal of hundreds of exhausted government troops from Debaltseve, a strategic railway hub between the main separatist-controlled cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Separatist fighters on February 18 claimed total control of Debaltseve after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko confirmed what he called "a planned and organized withdrawal."
Defense officials in Kyiv said a total of 2,459 Ukrainian soldiers left Debaltseve on February 18. (Reuters, AP, AFP, Interfax, TASS)
This ends our live blogging for February 18. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.