The Ukrainian side plans to launch the second phase of weapons withdrawal from the contact line in Donbas on Tuesday, the press center of the military operation has said.
“The second phase is due to begin already tomorrow [October 20],” a spokesperson said.
Kiev stresses that preparations for the weapons withdrawal are nearing completion, TASS reported.
“Under the Minsk agreements, Ukraine’s military compete preparing the weapons planned to be withdrawn from the contact line for at least 15 kilometers,” the spokesperson said.
The withdrawal should be carried out by both sides simultaneously, the press center stressed.
The defense ministry of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic said on Sunday Kiev was not preparing for the weapons withdrawal despite the pledges.
“There are no active actions besides the claims,” a spokesman for the ministry, Eduard Basurin, said. “Under the agreements, the first to be withdrawn are tanks; and on Saturday I said the Ukrainian military are building up the group of tanks at certain directions.”
Under the agreement reached in late September, the parties are to first withdraw tanks, then artillery weapons with the caliber under 100 mm and mortars to a distance of 15 kilometers from each side of the contact line.
The overall withdrawal effort is expected to take 41 days.
