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Ukraine, Russia-backed rebels accuse each other of shelling town in violation of cease-fire

Associated Press
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An Ukrainian soldier strikes a V-Victory sign driving on his vehicle on the road between the towns of Debaltseve and Artemivsk, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The Ukrainian government and Russia-backed rebels accused each other Monday of violating a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, a day before the parties are due to start withdrawing heavy weaponry under a recently brokered deal. The cease-fire, which went into effect on Sunday, had raised cautious hopes for an end to the 10-month-old conflict, which has already claimed more than 5,300 lives. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (The Associated Press)

An Ukrainian soldier walks past trenches near the road between the towns of Debaltseve and Artemivsk, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The Ukrainian government and Russia-backed rebels accused each other Monday of violating a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, a day before the parties are due to start withdrawing heavy weaponry under a recently brokered deal. The cease-fire, which went into effect on Sunday, had raised cautious hopes for an end to the 10-month-old conflict, which has already claimed more than 5,300 lives. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (The Associated Press)

An Ukrainian soldier carries water past a vehicle standing on a field near the road between the towns of Debaltseve and Artemivsk, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The Ukrainian government and Russia-backed rebels accused each other Monday of violating a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, a day before the parties are due to start withdrawing heavy weaponry under a recently brokered deal. The cease-fire, which went into effect on Sunday, had raised cautious hopes for an end to the 10-month-old conflict, which has already claimed more than 5,300 lives. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (The Associated Press)

The Ukrainian government and Russia-backed rebels are accusing each other of violating a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine.

Hopes for ending the 10-month long conflict surfaced after the cease-fire was announced on Sunday.

Separatist military spokesman Eduard Basurin said in a televised news conference on Monday that the government launched an artillery strike overnight on Horlivka, a town under rebel control.

Ukraine, however, blamed the attack on the rebels. Donetsk regional police chief Vyacheslav Abroskin said in a statement that the separatists shelled the town in order to derail the truce.

Both the separatists and the Ukrainian government reiterated their commitment to the cease-fire that was brokered last week in 16-hour talks involving the presidents of Russia, Ukraine as well as Western leaders.