Despite truce, shelling continues in eastern Ukraine

KIEV, Ukraine, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Despite a cease-fire signed in Minsk on September 5, eastern Ukraine continues to be racked by violence.

The situation was deemed "critical" by local officials.

On Sunday, the OSCE's Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine reported shelling in Donetsk. Monitors witnessed the impact and explosion of multiple shells within 100 and 200 kilometers of the team.

Both sides have accused the other of violating the terms of the cease-fire, with rebels alleging residential areas were targeted by the Ukrainian military and the Ukrainian military denouncing attacks on check points.

According to the Ukraine Crisis Center, "Terrorists continue to provoke military action," with rebels violating the cease-fire 249 times.

Meanwhile, Russia -- a signatory to the cease-fire -- has failed to withdraw its troops from both inside Ukraine and along the border, says Kiev.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shared his seemingly optimistic assessment of the situation during an interview with the Moscow-based TV Tsentr channel, claiming that "Sporadic exchanges of fire occur on both sides but the process of establishing of durable peace is still in progress."

Concerned about the cease-fire violations, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel "agreed to make further efforts to settle situation peacefully," Poroshenko's office stated.