Ukraine military postpones withdrawal from town, cites rebel shelling

A member of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic forces stands guard as people walk through a check point located on the troops contact line between pro-Moscow rebels and Ukrainian troops, in the settlement of Stanytsia Luhanska in Luhansk region, Ukraine, October 9, 2016. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

STANYTSA LUHANSKA, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine's military on Sunday postponed a planned parallel withdrawal with pro-Russian separatists from Stanytsa Luhanska, a town on the eastern frontline, saying rebels had disregarded the agreement by firing artillery at Ukrainian positions.

In September, the two sides agreed a pilot de-escalation project in three small towns - part of a push to revive a much-violated ceasefire and end a conflict that has killed over 9,600 since early 2014.