Ukrainian president announces 'day of silence' for eastern regions

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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has ordered the military forces to hold the so-called "day of silence" in eastern regions, starting from next Tuesday, the presidential press service said Thursday.

During his meeting with top military officials, Poroshenko has instructed them to ensure implementation of the Minsk ceasefire agreement during the "day of silence," the press service said in a statement.

Further actions were also set down at the meeting should insurgents in the east fail to comply with the Minsk agreement, the statement said.

The "day of silence," prescribed in the Minsk peace protocol, envisages temporary suspension of the hostilities between Ukrainian forces and independence-seeking insurgents.

At a meeting also attended by envoys from Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Ukrainian government and the rebels in Donetsk and Lugansk inked the ceasefire agreement on Sept. 5 in the capital of Belarus, aiming at de-escalating tensions and facilitating the release of hundreds of prisoners-of-war.

Despite the ceasefire accord, fighting in eastern Ukraine has continued. Since the ceasefire took effect, more than 1,000 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine, bringing the overall death toll in the eight-month-old conflict to more than 4,300.

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