KIEV
The pro-Russian separatists in Luhansk reached an agreement for a new cease-fire with the Ukrainian army, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said late Monday.
The European security watchdog, OSCE, said in a statement that the cease-fire was set to begin on Friday, Dec. 5. The two sides also pledged to withdraw heavy weaponry from the frontlines on Saturday.
Separately, the agreement was also confirmed by the head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, Igor Plotnitskiy.
The Ukrainian Counterterrorism Center also said a truce was also agreed upon around the Donetsk airport, which has seen intense fighting recently.
The previous cease-fire between Kiev and pro-Russian separatists was signed on Sept. 5 in Minsk, but it was violated numerous times and the conflict which has left thousands dead continued.
Between mid-April and Oct. 6, at least 3,600 people have died and 8,700 people have been injured during the conflict between the Ukrainian government and the rebels, the UN Human Rights Office said in a report in October.
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