Eastern Ukraine hit with more than 300 explosions from Russian backed separatists in 24 hours

The Ukraine military said on Friday there has been more than 300 explosions and around 600 ceasefire violations in the last 24hours in Donbas.

The Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said 20 cease-fire violations had been recorded in eastern Ukraine by 9am on Friday.

15 violations included the use of weapons that are prohibited under the Minsk agreements which was signed in 2014 and again in 2015 to prevent the breakout of war.

NATO and Washington along with other allies believe this could form part of a Russian pretext to invade Ukraine.

A diplomatic source told Reuters that the shelling in eastern Ukraine over the past two days described it as intense along the frozen frontline.

The Joint Forces Command has officially announced “that allied forces are adhering to the Minsk Agreements and international humanitarian law.

“Therefore, the allegations of alleged shelling of settlements by the Armed Forces of Ukraine are outright lies and provocations, for which the occupying country is responsible.

“It should be noted that the enemy continues its propaganda methods of waging an information war in order to accuse the Armed Forces of Ukraine of shelling the civilian population, thus concealing its own insidious actions.”

Ukraine military said that Russian separatist forces were “placing their artillery systems near residential buildings.”

The JFO added, “United forces control the situation and respond appropriately to potential threats from the enemy.”

Russian occupation forces opened fire on the village of Luhansk on Thursday and artillery shelling was heard near Donetsk airport.

Also the village of Elenovka in Donetsk province was shelled, both are areas controlled by Russian-backed rebels.

Russian state owned media have reported that the Ukraine “fired mortar shells and grenades at four localities in Luhansk People’s Republic.”

However Ukraine’s military said, “With particular cynicism, the Russian occupation troops shelled the village of Stanytsa Lugansk in the Luhansk region.

“As a result of the use of heavy artillery weapons by terrorists, shells hit the kindergarten building.

“According to preliminary data, two civilians received shell shock.”