Ukraine pulls back troops from combat zone in south-east

Ukrainian forces began implementing the provisions of Minsk arrangements about the withdrawal of heavy weapons to a distance of 15 km for the creation of a buffer zone in the south-east of Ukraine, the speaker of the Information Analytical Center of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Andrei Lysenko said.

"Preparations are underway for the withdrawal of heavy weapons at a distance of 15 kilometers," said Lysenko at a briefing on Monday.

He said that all the artillery, armored vehicles with guns of 100 mm and above fall into this category.

Lysenko noted that the militia forces also began to take similar steps, "but they are not as intense." He expressed a hope that the supporters of the "people's republics"  would "follow the example of the Ukrainian military."

One of the provisions adopted in Minsk on September 19, to achieve the cessation of offensive operations and the use of all weapons of both sides of the conflict, provides for the withdrawal of 100-mm caliber weapons at a distance of not less than 15 km on each side, including from settlements that will give an opportunity to create a safety zone with a minimum width of 30 km.