Ukraine says rebel attacks continue despite ceasefire

A Ukrainian military spokesman has said that separatist rebels fired on Ukrainian positions nearly 50 times over the past day, despite a ceasefire that was called into effect five days ago.

Lt. Col. Anatoliy Stelmakh said on Friday that the village of Kurakhovo, west of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, was hit by fire from Grad rockets and that the village of Berdyansk near the port city of Mariupol was hit by artillery and mortar fire during the night.

After Ukrainian forces withdrew this week from the city of Debaltseve, concern has risen about whether rebels would aim to take Mariupol.

The city lies on the Sea of Azov between mainland Russia and the Russia-annexed Crimean peninsula.