Ukraine truce fades as fighting rages, arms pullback stalls

Members of the Ukrainian armed forces ride on a military vehicle near Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine, February 17, 2015. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

NIKISHINE, Ukraine (Reuters) - Pro-Russian rebels bombarded government troops encircled in east Ukraine on Tuesday and a plan for both sides to pull back their heavy guns stalled, pushing a fragile peace deal closer to collapse.

A Reuters witness near the front line said artillery rounds rocked the town of Debaltseve every five seconds and black smoke rose skywards, despite a truce that has eased fighting in many areas since the European-brokered deal took effect on Sunday.