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Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the town of Debaltseve following fierce fighting with pro-Russian rebels, the country's president has said.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 80% of his military units had left in a "planned and organised withdrawal".

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.

The bodies of at least 13 Ukrainian soldiers have been delivered to a morgue close to Debaltseve, a morgue official said.

Twenty-two Ukrainian troops have been killed and over 150 were wounded in fighting in the town in recent days, it was reported.

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.

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Gallery: Ukraine Troops Leave Debaltseve

Pro-Russian separatists take position near the eastern Ukrainian city of Uglegorsk, 6 kms southwest of Debaltseve

Pro-Russian rebels stationed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Gorlivka, Donetsk region, launch missiles from Grad launch vehicles

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Pro-Russian separatists patrol a street in the eastern Ukrainian city of Makeyevka

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Ukrainian troops pulled out of the besieged flashpoint eastern town Debaltseve after it was stormed by pro-Russian rebels in what the EU said was a "clear violation" of an internationally-backed truce

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

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

"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.

AFP journalists also saw dozens of tanks and vehicles carrying haggard soldiers leaving.

Separatist forces have been claiming they control 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 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 about the crisis, French government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said.

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