Ukrainian forces quit besieged town after rebel assault


Ukrainian servicemen ride on a military vehicle as they leave an area around Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine near Artemivsk, February 18, 2015.REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

ARTEMIVSK/BULAVYNE, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine pulled thousands of troops out of an encircled town on Wednesday after a massive assault by pro-Russian rebels, who ignored a new ceasefire to seize the strategic railway junction.

The fall of the besieged town of Debaltseve was one of the worst defeats of the war for Ukraine's troops, who proved unable to stop an advance by Moscow-backed rebels fighting for territory the Kremlin calls "New Russia".

Play, subscribe and stand a chance to win prizes worth over RM39,000! T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Dubai limits foreign flights until May 31, letters show, hitting Indian airlines hardest
Exclusive-Macron seeks to draw Trump to G7 with post-summit invite to Versailles
Kremlin says Putin envoy's US visit does not mean Ukraine talks have resumed
Factbox-Details of U.S. troops based in Europe as Trump mulls removing some
Eswatini court rules first Trump deportees in jail have right to lawyer
Artemis II astronauts hurtle home from moon toward splashdown
Hungarian opposition leads PM Orban's Fidesz, poll shows
Ukraine in talks with Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain on security cooperation, Zelenskiy says
Ukraine faces months of diplomatic and military pressure, Zelenskiy says
Myanmar president says many challenges ahead, seeks to normalise ASEAN ties

Others Also Read