RIA Novosti: Ukraine rebel spokesman upbeat on cease-fire prospects despite “violations”

(RIA Novosti – Donetsk, February 15, 2015) The cessation of artillery fire in the majority of urban centres of the [self-declared] Donetsk People’s Republic [DPR] can be viewed as a sign that the Minsk agreements are being observed, DPR plenipotentiary representative Denis Pushilin [Denys Pushylin] told RIA Novosti.

[Passage omitted: Ukraine cease-fire was agreed in Minsk on 12 February and went into force at midnight Ukrainian time on 15 February (2200 gmt 14 February)]

“The fact is that neither artillery fire nor explosions can be heard in Donetsk or Makiyivka, where I was after 0000 hours. This is a good sign that all the points of the package of measures to implement the Minsk agreements will be observed. Nevertheless, there are violations. There has been a breakthrough attempt by Ukrainian forces in the area of Donetsk airport and the shelling of Horlivka. There are also several relatively minor violations,” Pushilin said.

On Sunday afternoon [15 February], Andriy Lysenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian forces’ special operation in Donbass, said that in general, since the cease-fire took effect, the situation in Donbass has been moving towards stabilization.