Ukraine to pull back artillery and armored vehicles from buffer zone

Tuesday, September 23, 2014 | 15:59:30

(VOVworld) – The Ukrainian army is preparing to withdraw artillery and armored vehicles from a proposed 30-kilometer (18-mile) buffer zone due to reduced tensions in the troubled areas.

Ukraine to pull back artillery and armored vehicles from buffer zone - ảnh 1

A Ukrainian serviceman is pictured next to an armoured vehicle near the village of Debaltseve in eastern Ukraine September 21, 2014.

Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, told reporters on Monday that the number of artillery attacks has decreased, which allowed Ukraine to implement the deal between Ukraine, Russia, and federalists inked last Friday. Under the deal, the warring sides need to pull back their artillery by 15 km on each side to create a 30-km buffer zone between their forces.

Russian Permanent Representative to the OSCE Andrei Kelin said the buffer zone in eastern Ukraine will be divided into five sectors to be observed by OSCE’s 350 inspectors. 90-100 inspectors will be working in Luhansk and Donetsk each.