Self-proclaimed Donetsk republic plans to start pulling back artillery systems smaller than 100mm on Oct 28
DONETSK. Oct 24 (Interfax) - The self-proclaimed Donetsk people's republic (DPR) plans to start the second phase of the withdrawal of weapons smaller than 100mm in caliber from the line of contact with the Ukrainian government forces on October 28.
"We plan to start withdrawing artillery systems smaller than 100mm in caliber on October 28," Eduard Basurin of the DPR defense ministry told journalists.
Denis Pushilin, the DPR's envoy at negotiations in Minsk, had said on Friday that the militia were withdrawing weapons smaller than 100mm in keeping with a schedule previously agreed upon.
"The weapons withdrawal is continuing, and everything is going according to plan. On the whole, I believe the [agreement on] hardware withdrawal is being observed," Pushilin told journalists.
The DPR militia started pulling back hardware and weapons smaller than 100mm on October 21.
The Donetsk news agency quoted Pushilin as saying that the DPR had withdrawn all tanks from the contact line on Thursday, October 22 and is supposed to withdraw artillery systems smaller than 100mm on October 26.
The agreements on the withdrawal of weapons stipulate that tanks should be pulled back first. The second phase envisions the withdrawal of artillery systems and the third mortars up to 120mm in caliber. The withdrawals are to be completed by November 10, the report says.
