Ukraine weapons deal violations observed

NOVOAMVROSIIVSKE, Ukraine – With cameras and clipboards in hand, teams of blue-jacketed international observers drive around the countryside of eastern Ukraine looking for rocket launchers and artillery.

Their task is to verify whether government troops and Russian-backed rebel forces are removing heavy weapons from the front line in accordance with a February cease-fire deal. The success of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe monitoring mission would lessen the chances that heavy fighting will resume in a conflict that has already left more than 6,000 dead in a year.

Evidence is emerging, however, that the warring sides are leading monitors on a time-wasting game of hide-and-seek.

On Friday, an Associated Press journalist saw two tanks and two 120 mm guns being taken toward the front in rebel territory, near the separatist-held city of Donetsk. Two days earlier, Ukrainian troops were seen transporting a tank and a large-caliber gun in the town of Avdiivka, which also lies on the front line.

None of the weapons should have been there.

Under a peace deal laboriously negotiated between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, anything with a caliber of 100 mm or above should be pulled back 15 to 45 miles from the front.

The weapons withdrawal began the last week of February and both sides claim to have completed the process.

But Ukrainian military officials have at times conceded they are refraining from a complete withdrawal of heavy weapons.

“We will not withdraw all our weapons, as we have no confirmation that the same is being done by the enemy,” military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters March 11. “It would be wrong and criminal to leave our troops without any cover.”