Ukrainian Troops Withdraw From Debaltseve

Ukrainian troops retreated from Debaltseve on February 18 after weeks of fighting with Russian-backed separatists, who surrounded the strategic town in January. Separatists continued their offensive to capture Debaltseve, which lies almost halfway between the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, despite an agreed ceasefire instated on February 14.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko lambasted both the rebels and the Russian government for failing to put the terms of the Minsk agreements into effect. Military commander Semen Semenchenko later confirmed that the withdrawal of troops was “planned and organized”. Credit: YouTube/Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty