(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 7 March, 2022) Ken Saro Wiwa’s Soza boy (soldier boy) looks around. He sees inside one pit, the head of a soldier, and in another pit, the leg of a soldier. Everywhere he turns, he sees “so so human flesh in small pieces! Finger, nail, hair, prick, blockus…”…
Ukraine: Fighting Continues Despite Truce
Fierce fighting has continued between government troops and pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine, despite renewed diplomatic efforts to enforce a truce. Ukraine officials said six government soldiers were killed in the past 24 hours and army positions were fired on 26 times near the rebel stronghold of Donetsk. The rebels said one of their fighters…
Ukraine Begins Heavy Weapons Withdrawal
Ukraine’s military has begun the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line in the eastern part of the country as part of a truce. Ukraine’s ministry of defence said the pullout of 100mm calibre artillery “is the first step” and will be monitored by OSCE observers. Though the pro-Russian rebels also claimed to have…
Russia Criticizes Ukraine’s Call for UN Intervention
Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, has criticized Ukraine’s call for the deployment of UN peacekeeping force in eastern Ukraine. Churkin said the call was a destructive move and “raises suspicions that he (Ukraine President) wants to destroy the Minsk accords.” The Minsk ceasefire deal was reached a week ago but fighting around…
Ukraine Troops Withdraw From Key Town
Ukraine forces have begun withdrawing from the embattled town of Debaltseve, Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko announced on Wednesday. The President said 80 per cent of Ukraine’s troops had vacated the key town on Wednesday morning, with more to follow. Fighting over the town, a major transport hub, has been on going for many months now.…
Clashes Threaten Ceasefire Pact In Ukraine
Sporadic clashes in Eastern Ukraine may be threatening the ceasefire pact agreed upon by leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, more than 24 hours after it was supposed to have taken effect. According to the Ukrainian military Command, the pro-Russian rebels had attacked 112 times since early Sunday, mostly in the ferociously contested Debalteve…
Ukraine President Orders Ceasefire
Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine’s president has said a truce agreed with pro-Russian rebels in the east must be honored, as he ordered the army to stop fighting. Poroshenko said, “perhaps the last chance for peace won’t be lost,” adding that agreements “must be honoured, and we are expecting that the ceasefire deal will be adhered to.”…
Russia, Ukraine, leaders Agree on Cease-Fire
In an effort to bring an end to the fighting in eastern Ukraine, leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France have agreed on a cease-fire deal following marathon talks in Germany. The ceasefire, which would begin on February 15, would involve the withdrawal of heavy weapons from conflict areas. Though some of the issues were…
Ukraine Rebels To Recruit 100,000 Fighters
Pro-Russian separatist leader, Alexander Zakharchenko, has revealed plans to recruit 100,000 men even as fighting with Ukrainian forces intensifies. The separatists plans to push government forces out of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and are hoping to capture the key town of Debaltseve. Zakharchenko told news men that “mobilisation will start in 11…
Ukraine: US May Extend Sanctions On Russia
United States Treasury Secretary, Jacob Lew, has said that the U.S. may extend sanctions on Russia because of the increasing violence in east Ukraine. Lew, who spoke during a visit to Kiev, Ukraine, said the U.S. would consider “further restrictive measures” on Russia’s government. In the last one week, pro-Russian separatists have pushed back Ukrainian…
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