22 Ukrainian soldiers killed, 150 wounded despite ceasefire

KIEV

At least 22 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 150 others were wounded despite a ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists, a senior Ukrainian military official said Wednesday.

Gennadiy Vorobyov, an official from Ukraine's general staff, said officers were targeted in Debaltseve, the key railway hub in eastern Ukraine, after separatists took control of the town.

Vorobyov added that 2,459 troops and more than 200 military vehicles also withdrew from Debaltseve.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko visited the soldiers in Donetsk and said that 80 percent of government troops withdrew from Debaltseve after days of fierce fighting.

A number of Ukrainian troops have been captured by the rebels, a fact the Ukrainian government has acknowledged, but it has not said how many troops were taken as prisoners. 

Rebel leaders claimed the town was their territory and said it was not part of the ceasefire agreement. The Ukrainian government has denied this claim and fought back against rebel attacks with 8,000 troops.

The Minsk ceasefire agreement was signed on Feb. 12 and went into effect at midnight on Saturday.

"I hope the responsible figures in the Ukrainian leadership will not hinder soldiers in the Ukrainian army from putting down their weapons," Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.

The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday called on all parties in eastern Ukraine to abide by the ceasefire accord. Russia drafted a resolution, which was adopted unanimously by the 15-member council.