Strategic city of Debaltseve falls to Ukraine separatists

Jane Onyanga-Omara | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Raw: Ukraine troops withdraw from town Ukrainian troops were seen withdrawing from the town of Debaltseve. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko denied claims that pro-Russian troops had them surrounded. (Feb. 18)

The strategic railway hub of Debaltseve in eastern Ukraine fell to Russia-backed separatists Wednesday after weeks of fighting.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on his official Twitter account earlier that the Ukrainian army withdrew 80% of its troops and two more columns were yet to leave. He was traveling to eastern Ukraine on Wednesday to "shake hands" with the soldiers who were pulled out of Debaltseve.

In televised comments, Poroshenko denied claims by Russia-backed separatists that the Ukrainians were encircled and said the troops are leaving Debaltseve with weapons and ammunition.

"Debaltseve was under our control, it was never encircled. Our troops and formations have left in an organized and planned manner," he said.

Separatists reported taking hundreds of soldiers captive as they continued their onslaught on the railway hub, which links the separatist cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. The fighting has continued despite a cease-fire deal that went into effect Sunday.

Rebel spokesman Eduard Basurin said hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered in Debaltseve. Russian state-owned television on Wednesday showed images of several dozen Ukrainian troops being escorted along a village road by the rebels.

Ukrainian military spokesman Anatoliy Stelmakh said in a televised briefing Wednesday that the rebels launched five artillery strikes on Debaltseve overnight, "grossly violating the peace accords."

The developments came the day after U.S. Vice President Joe Biden condemned violations of the cease-fire, and said that if Russia keeps violating the agreements reached with Ukraine, costs for Russia will increase.

The White House says the violation occurred in and around Debaltseve, and that it was confirmed by special monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is responsible for monitoring the cease-fire.

Biden, who spoke with Poroshenko by phone Tuesday, also condemned Russia and separatists for blocking the monitors' access and said it has allowed the separatists to continue attacks.

Observers from the OSCE have attempted to go to Debaltseve since Sunday but have been blocked by the rebels. The separatists' Donetsk News Agency on Wednesday quoted rebel official Maxim Leshchenko saying that the OSCE will be allowed to visit Debaltseve "soon" once their forces have finished the operation there.

Under an agreement deal brokered Thursday in Minsk, Belarus, among the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany, the cease-fire was due to start Sunday and the warring sides were to begin withdrawing heavy weapons from the front line Tuesday.

Rebel leaders said Wednesday that they have begun the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the parts of the frontline where the cease-fire holds.

Rebel commander Eduard Basurin told Russian Rossiya 1 channel that they are pulling back five self-propelled guns from Olenivka, south of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk on the road to the government-controlled port of Mariupol.

"This is the first step," he said. "And we're not waiting for Ukraine to start pulling back the weaponry together with us."

The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to approve a Russian-drafted resolution to endorse the cease-fire deal Tuesday.

U.S. ambassador Samantha Power said Russia must stop arming the separatists, which Russia denies.

"Stop sending hundreds of heavy weapons across the border in addition to your troops," she said. "Stop pretending you are not doing what you are doing. Russia signs agreements then does everything within its power to undermine them. Russia champions the sovereignty of nations and then acts as a neighbor's borders do not exist."

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said her comments were "offensive."

"Since the very start of the crisis, Russia has actively called for a peaceful settlement through inclusive, transparent dialogue between all sides in the internal Ukrainian conflict," he said.

In a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Poroshenko said the assault on Debaltseve was a "cynical attack" on the truce, the Times of London reported.

He called for the European Union and the international community to take a "tough reaction against the treacherous actions of the rebels and Russia," the paper reported.

Contributing: Associated Press