Ukraine Truce 'Broken 139 Times' On First Day

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Pro-Russian rebels have launched 112 attacks on Ukrainian troops, killing five, in the 24 hours since a ceasefire came into effect, Kiev has claimed.

Rebel commander Eduard Basurin issued a counter-claim that Ukraine had violated the truce 27 times.

Both sides are due to withdraw heavy artillery from the frontline on Tuesday under the terms of the ceasefire - but whether this will happen is now in doubt.

"Five Ukrainian troops were killed and 25 wounded in the past 24 hours," said Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

"112 incidents of shelling is not a ceasefire. So we are not ready yet to withdraw."

One the rebel leaders, Denis Pushilin, responded by saying his forces were "only ready for a mutual withdrawal of equipment".

The fighting has centred on the eastern town of Debaltseve, where up to 7,000 Ukrainian troops are trapped by a circle of separatist militants.

Rebels have offered a safe corridor out, with commander Eduard Basurin saying: "We suggest that the Ukrainian soldiers in Debaltseve stay alive.

"There is just one condition: that they lay down their weapons. We didn't talk about them becoming prisoners. Lay down your weapons and get out of here."

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Gallery: Ukraine Truce Holds But Sporadic Clashes Continue

Pro-Russian separatists drive a tank through Donetsk. Most of the frontline has fallen silent, but a Kiev source said four Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the ceasefire started on Sunday.

Two members of the armed forces from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic stand guard at a checkpoint near the town.

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Another member of the Donetsk People's Republic checks on a kettle as the ceasefire holds across large swathes of eastern Ukraine.

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Meanwhile, on a road leading to the contested town of Debaltseve - which has continued to see some unrest - two Ukrainian soldiers play football during the ceasefire.

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Other members of the Ukrainian armed forces take a cigarette break near Debaltseve.

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Kiev immediately dismissed the offer.

"There are the Minsk agreements, according to which Debaltseve is ours. We will not leave," said military spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov.

Fighting has subsided in parts of eastern Ukraine since the truce negotiated by France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine came into effect on Sunday morning.

However, a militia with links to the Ukrainian government has released footage of what it says are further breaches in Mariupol.

"The situation is fragile," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"It was always clear that much remains to be done. And I have always said that there are no guarantees that what we are trying to do succeeds. It will be an extremely difficult path."

Mrs Merkel spoke with French President Francois Hollande and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on the phone on Monday, and the three expressed "concern" over the situation in Debaltseve.

Meanwhile, Moscow said the EU had "contradicted common sense" by implementing fresh sanctions on 19 individuals and nine organisations for undermining Ukraine's independence.

The list includes Russian first deputy defence minister Arkady Bakhin.

Veteran singer Iosif Kobzon, who voiced support for Russia's annexation of Crimea, has also been hit by asset freezes and travel bans that were agreed prior to the ceasefire deal.

The 10-month conflict has already claimed more than 5,300 lives.

The West says Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has called parts of Ukraine "New Russia", has sent troops and weapons to back the rebels - a charge denied by Moscow.

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Congor Mangap