The cease-fire in eastern Ukraine is collapsing in a battle over a key transportation hub. The Ukranian government has withdrawn its forces after weeks of fighting against Russian-backed separatists to hold on to the strategic location of Debaltseve. The main rebel group fighting at Debaltseve insists the town was encircled before the cease-fire began Sunday, making it an internal part of the rebel-held region rather than part of the front lines where envoys agreed the fighting would stop.
A spokesperson for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the clash over Debaltseve is a “massive violation” of the truce reached last week. Merkel helped broker the cease-fire in an effort to end almost a year of fighting. The United Nations estimates the conflict has killed more than 5,600 people.
David Burrow teaches Russian and Soviet History at the University of South Dakota. He joined Dakota Midday and discussed the latest news from Ukraine.