Ukrainian Troops Withdraw From Key Town

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Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the town of Debaltseve following fierce fighting with pro-Russian rebels, the country's president has said.

Petro Poroshenko said: "This morning the Ukrainian armed forces together with the National Guard completed an operation for a planned and organised withdrawal from Debaltseve.

"As of now we can say that 80% of our units have left."

Hundreds, if not thousands, of Ukrainian troops were believed to be trapped in the strategically important town, which links the two rebel-controlled regions in the east of Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk.

A pro-Russian rebel official cited by the separatist press service DAN earlier said hundreds of government troops were surrendering to separatist forces there.

Russian television station Channel One showed the rebels hoisting their flag over a high-rise building in Debaltseve.

But Mr Poroshenko denied claims the pro-government forces were encircled, and said the troops were leaving with weapons and ammunition.

The Ukrainian leader said another two columns were expected to leave Debaltseve, and added he was heading to the front line to meet soldiers.

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Gallery: Ukraine Troops Leave Debaltseve

Ukrainian servicemen ride on military vehicles as they leave an area around Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine

President Petro Poroshenko said 80% of units had left the town, in order to comply with the current ceasefire

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Mr Poroshenko: 'Armed forces together with the National Guard completed an operation for a planned and organised withdrawal from Debaltseve'

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Fierce fighting with pro-Russian rebels has raged around the strategically important town, which links the rebel-controlled regions of Donetsk and Luhansk

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"These actions have confounded Russia, which only yesterday demanded that Ukrainian soldiers lay down their arms, raise the white flag and surrender," he said.

"Despite the fierce artillery bombardments, so far we have information that out of 2,000 Ukrainian troops we have 30 injured."

Praising Ukrainian forces for "really socking it" to the separatists, Mr Poroshenko said he was going to the front "for the great honour of shaking hands with our heroes."

Ukraine accuses Russia of supporting and arming the rebels, a claim Moscow denies.

The 10-month conflict has left more than 5,000 people dead.

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Ukraine to admit defeat in Debaltseve, saying "the only choice" of the troops was to "leave behind weaponry, lay down arms and surrender."

Associated Press reporters on the road to the government-controlled town of Artemivsk reported seeing several dozen Ukrainian troops retreating from Debaltseve on Wednesday morning.

AFP journalists near the town saw dozens of tanks and vehicles carrying haggard soldiers leaving.

Separatist forces have been claiming they have control of the town, and at one point offered Ukrainian troops the chance to surrender and lay down their weapons, which Kiev denied.

A rebel military spokesman, Eduard Basurin, told Russian television that more than 300 Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered, the Interfax news agency reported.

Kiev has admitted that soldiers have been taken prisoner, but has not said how many.

Fighting has continued there despite a ceasefire between Ukrainian government forces and rebels coming into force at the weekend.

Russia's Interfax news agency reported that pro-Moscow rebels have started to withdraw heavy weapons from areas they control in eastern Ukraine where the ceasefire was holding.

The rebels say that the agreement negotiated by Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France last week does not apply to Debaltseve.

The leaders of those four countries will speak by phone later on Wednesday about the crisis, French government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has said Europe must make it clear to Moscow that it faces economic and financial consequences for "many years to come" if it does not stop destabilising Ukraine.

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