The Battle For The Ukrainian Town of Debaltseve Is Coming To An End. Ukrainian Forces Are Surrending By The Hundreds. Street By Street Battles Are Being Reported

Reuters: Ukraine truce unravels as rebels advance into government-held town

Pro-Russian rebels fought their way into an encircled government bastion and were battling street-to-street on Tuesday, all but dashing hopes that a European-brokered peace deal would end months of conflict.

Two days after a truce went into effect, an agreement reached at all-night talks in the Belarussian capital Minsk last week was unravelling rapidly, with both sides refusing to begin pulling back heavy guns on Tuesday as required.

The failed ceasefire has left thousands of Ukrainian troops surrounded, their fate uncertain. The rebels said they had captured hundreds of them and would not let the rest escape unless they surrender. Ukraine said some of its troops had been taken prisoner but denied the number captured was that high.

WNU Editor: So much for the Ukrainian government's recent assertions that their forces were not surrounded ... when clearly they were. It is night time in Ukraine right now .... I suspect that more information on the fall of Debaltseve and the fate of 1,000+ Ukrainian soldiers trapped in this enclave will be known by tomorrow morning. My guess is that most of these soldiers are abandoning their posts and are trying to flee out of this entrapment, some are going to stay put and make a last stand, .... and the rest are probably surrendering or will be surrendering by tomorrow. This a major defeat for the Ukraine government .... there are going to be consequences .... for the Poroshenko government, Ukrainian public opinion for this war, E.U. and U.S. reaction, and more sanctions against Russia. As for the truce .... that is definitely dead .... but with a Ukrainian army that is no longer in a position to resist pro-Russian rebel advances should they decide to do so.

More News On The Battle for The Town Of Debaltseve

Ukraine says some soldiers taken prisoner in Debaltseve -- AP
Rebels Claim Control of Key Ukraine Town as Truce Shudders -- Bloomberg
Ukraine rebels claim control of most of Debaltseve -- Financial Times
Russia-backed rebels claim to capture key Ukraine rail hub -- Mashable
Ukraine Truce Hangs by Thread as Rebels Claim Key Rail Hub -- Time
Ukraine says peace hopes 'destroyed' as rebels assault town -- AFP
Heavy fighting at strategic rail hub in east Ukraine -- The Guardian