Russian-Backed Separatists Violated Ceasefire in Ukraine Within Hours: Ukrainian Military

(L) Russia's President Vladimir Putin takes part in a video conference call outside Moscow, Russia on June 11, 2020. (Sputnik/Alexei Nikolsky/Kremlin via Reuters), (R) Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at the presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Nov. 27, 2019. (Petras Malukas/AFP via Getty Images

A full and comprehensive ceasefire between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists that went into effect in eastern Ukraine on Monday at midnight has already been violated by separatists, the Ukrainian military said.

Ukrainian, Russian, and OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) negotiators last week agreed on a full and comprehensive ceasefire in eastern Ukraine from Monday, putting on hold the military conflict that has claimed more than 13,000 lives since 2014.