Rebel official says separatists have also completed pullback from buffer zone before deadline under peace agreement

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Ukraine’s military says it is completing its pullback of heavy weapons under the terms of a peace agreement aimed at ending the war with separatist rebels that has killed more than 6,000 people.

An internationally brokered agreement calls for both sides to create a buffer zone by pulling back heavy weapons. Saturday was the deadline for the pullbacks to be completed.

Rebel official Denis Pushilin said the separatists had completed their pullback ahead of schedule and another top rebel, Eduard Basurin, said even some mortars not covered under the agreement were being pulled back.

Colonel Valentin Fedichev, deputy commander of the anti-rebel offensive, said Ukrainian forces were finishing their pullback.

There was no independent confirmation of either side’s claim.