Donetsk militants refuse to abide Minsk agreement

Head of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" Alexander Zakharchenko disclaims implementation of the agreements reached in Minsk (Belarus) in September 2014.

This is reported by Censor.NET citing Ukrainian News.

"I believe that all the "Minsk Agreement " that were in effect before, at the moment have been annulled by the Ukrainian side. There is no question of withdrawal of artillery and tanks from the demarcation line," Zakharchenko said.

Read also: More than 260 killed over the past nine days in Donbas - UN

In addition, he said that he will issue orders not to take prisoners, to avoid specified the procedure for the exchange of prisoners of the "Minsk Agreement".

According to him the DPR leaders were enticed to break the agreements reached in Minsk by the death of 13 civilians as a result of a mortar attack at a road junction in Donetsk.

"In light of recent events I want to say this: we are able to independently move your military units from our cities in order to stop the shelling," Zakharchenko said.

Read also: Militants showing increased activity. Most difficult situation is near Debaltseve - ATO press center

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, France, Germany and Russia advocate the withdrawal of heavy weapons by the parties to the conflict in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to the demarcation line agreed in Minsk in September 2014.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) confirmed the death of eight and wounding of 13 people due to shelling of the public transport stop in Donetsk on Jan. 22.