AKIPRESS.COM - Ukraine's military postponed a planned parallel withdrawal with pro-Russian separatists from Stanytsa Luhanska, a town on the eastern frontline, saying rebels had disregarded the agreement by firing artillery at Ukrainian positions, according to Reuters.

In September, the two sides agreed a pilot de-escalation project in three small towns – part of a push to revive a much-violated ceasefire and end a conflict that has killed over 9,600 since early 2014.

"The separation of forces and equipment which was planned for today was postponed," said General Borys Kremenetsky, Ukraine's representative to the ceasefire coordination center.

"The main reason is the continuation of shelling along the line of separation. I would say there has been an increase over the last few days and use of heavy artillery," he told journalists.

The delay is yet another setback for the struggling peace process. Both sides accuse the other of violating the 18-month-old Minsk ceasefire agreement on a near-daily basis.

On Sunday, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said rebels had used heavy artillery in a "major" attack in part of the Luhansk region. Meanwhile separatist officials accused Ukrainian troops of firing at a rebel-held residential district in southern Donetsk region, separatist news site DAN reported.

Nevertheless, both sides have said they have withdrawn from Petrovske in Donetsk region and Zolote in Luhansk region – the other two areas listed in the latest de-escalation pact.