Dow Jones, a News Corp company

News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services

Dow Jones

News Corp

Subscribe Now Sign In

The Wall Street Journal

Search

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe Agrees to Resign

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe Agrees to Resign

Figure at Center of Lebanon Intrigue Appears in Paris

Figure at Center of Lebanon Intrigue Appears in Paris

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams to Step Down in Early 2018

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams to Step Down in Early 2018

Italy Labors to Integrate Refugees in Weak Economy

Italy Labors to Integrate Refugees in Weak Economy

Palestinians Vow to Suspend Talks if U.S. Closes Washington Office

Palestinians Vow to Suspend Talks if U.S. Closes Washington Office

Argentina Steps Up Search for Missing Submarine

Argentina Steps Up Search for Missing Submarine

After U.S. Push, Asian Nations Tighten Screws on North Korea

After U.S. Push, Asian Nations Tighten Screws on North Korea

A Top Venezuelan Opposition Figure Flees, Says He’ll Fight From Abroad

A Top Venezuelan Opposition Figure Flees, Says He’ll Fight From Abroad

U.S. Seeks to Bolster Saudi Arabia in Face of Expanding Iranian Threat

U.S. Seeks to Bolster Saudi Arabia in Face of Expanding Iranian Threat

Russia Vetoes Independent U.N. Committee Probe of Syria Chemical Attacks

Russia Vetoes Independent U.N. Committee Probe of Syria Chemical Attacks

Indonesian Corruption Probe Zeroes In on Top Politician

Indonesian Corruption Probe Zeroes In on Top Politician

Small

Medium

Large

Save Article

Sign In to Save Subscribe to WSJ

Ukraine Truce Fades in Fight for Key Town

Fighting for Debaltseve reflects hard-held strategic interests on both sides

Despite a cease-fire between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels, fighting continued around the contested town of Debaltseve. Meanwhile, the EU has expanded its sanctions list for actions linked to the conflict. Photo: AP.

By

James Marson in Luhanske, Ukraine, and

James Marson

The Wall Street Journal

Biography James Marson
@marson_jr
james.marson@wsj.com

Anton Troianovski in Berlin

Anton Troianovski

The Wall Street Journal

Biography Anton Troianovski
@AntonWSJ
Anton.Troianovski@wsj.com

Updated Feb. 16, 2015 6:23 p.m. ET

In the railway town of Debaltseve, Ukraine’s cease-fire lasted all of 40 minutes.

“We were surprised when the firing stopped, and hoped it would be the cease-fire,” said Albert Sardaryan, a 22-year-old combat paramedic in the town, by telephone. “But then it started again.”

Fighting for Debaltseve has become the biggest challenge to the cease-fire that went into effect at midnight Saturday and was supposed to end months of...

Most Popular Videos

Most Popular Articles

Popular on WSJ

Most Popular Videos

Most Popular Articles


<!-- share menu -->
<menu class="shareMenu  shareMenu--horizontal">


   <li class="shareMenu__item hide4">
     <a href="#print" class="shareIcon" data-sharemenu-action="print" aria-label="Print" data-sharemenu-track="print">
       <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--print" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 20 17.6"><path d="M-711-3365v4612H969v-4612H-711zM25 22.6H-5V-5h30v27.6z" fill="none"/><path d="M2.3 14.6h1v3h13.4v-3h1c1.3 0 2.3-1 2.3-2V9c0-1-1-2-2.2-2h-1V3.8l-4-3.8H3.4v7h-1C1 7 0 8 0 9v3.4c0 1.2 1 2.2 2.3 2.2zM12.5.6L16 4.2h-3.5V.8zM4 .7h8.2v4H16V7H4V.7zm0 14h12V17H4v-2.4z"/></svg>
     </a>
   </li>

  <li class="shareMenu__item">
    <a class="shareIcon shareIcon--facebook" data-sharemenu-action="window" data-sharemenu-track="facebook" aria-label="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171119190147/https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-truce-fades-in-fight-for-key-town-1424122730" target="_blank">
      <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--facebook" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 10.5 22.5"><path d="M10 11.3H7v11.2H2V11.3H0v-4h2.2V4.7C2.2 3 3.2 0 7 0h3.5v4H8c-.5 0-1 0-1 1v2.3h3.5l-.4 4z"/></svg>
    </a>
  </li>

  <li class="shareMenu__item">
    <a class="shareIcon shareIcon--twitter" data-sharemenu-action="window" data-sharemenu-track="twitter" aria-label="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171119190147/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Ukraine%20truce%20fades%20in%20fight%20for%20key%20town&url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-truce-fades-in-fight-for-key-town-1424122730&via=WSJ">
      <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--twitter" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 21.1 17.4"><path d="M19 4.3V5c0 5.7-4.4 12.4-12.4 12.4-2.4 0-4.7-.7-6.6-2h1c2 0 4-.6 5.4-1.8-2 0-3.5-1.3-4-3h1.8C2.3 10 1 8.2 1 6c.6.2 1.2.4 2 .4-1.2-.7-2-2-2-3.6 0-.8.3-1.6.7-2.2 2 2.7 5.3 4.4 9 4.6-.2-.3-.2-.7-.2-1 0-2.4 2-4.4 4.3-4.4 1.2 0 2.4.5 3 1.4 1-.2 2-.6 2.8-1-.3 1-1 1.8-2 2.3 1 0 1.8-.3 2.6-.7-.5 1-1.3 1.7-2 2.3"/></svg>
    </a>
  </li>

  <li class="shareMenu__item hide12 hide16">
    <span class="shareIcon" data-sharemenu-action="partial-scrim" data-target="fontScrim" aria-label="Text Resize">
      <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--font" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 18.5 17.5"><path d="M18.2 17.2c-.7 0-.7-.2-1-1.4L14.5 4.2h-.2l-2.7 11.3c-.3 1-.4 1.5-.7 1.7h-.4c-1 0-1-.2-1.3-2L5.6 0h-.3L1.7 14.8C1.2 17 1.2 17 0 17.2v.4h4v-.4h-.4c-1.6 0-1.6-.3-1-2.6L3 12h3.2l.8 3.4c.3 1.4.4 1.6-1 1.7h-.4v.5H13v-.3H13c-1.3 0-1.3-.2-1-2l.4-1.4H15l.5 2c.2 1.2.3 1.4-.8 1.4h-.3v.3h4v-.3h-.2zm-15-6l1.5-6 1.3 6H3.3zm9.4 1.7l1-4.8L15 13h-2.2z"/></svg>
    </span>
  </li>


  <li class="shareMenu__item sharePopup__wrap hide4 hide8">
    <input type="checkbox" class="sharePopup__toggle" id="shareMenuSavePopupSB12044330730223914681904580466162149603430" data-sharemenu-action="popup">
    <label for="shareMenuSavePopupSB12044330730223914681904580466162149603430" class="shareIcon shareIcon--save">
      <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--save" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 12 19"><path d="M0 1.653C0 .74.77 0 1.72 0h8.56C11.23 0 12 .745 12 1.653V19l-6-5.542L0 19V1.653z"/></svg>
    </label>
    <div class="sharePopup sharePopup--save">
      <h6 class="shareLabel">Save Article</h6>
      <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171119190147/https://accounts.wsj.com/login?target=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Fukraine-truce-fades-in-fight-for-key-town-1424122730" class="shareLink" rel="nofollow">Sign In to Save</a>
      <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171119190147/https://subscribe.wsj.com/default" class="shareLink">Subscribe to WSJ</a>
    </div>
  </li>

   <li class="shareMenu__item hide12 hide16">
     <span class="shareIcon" data-sharemenu-action="scrim" data-target="shareScrim">
       <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--more" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 21 5"><circle cx="10.5" cy="2.5" r="2.5" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd"/><path d="M16 3c.3 1.2 1.3 2 2.5 2C20 5 21 4 21 2.5 21 1 20 0 18.5 0S16 1 16 2.5V3z" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd"/><circle cx="2.5" cy="2.5" r="2.5" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd"/></svg>
     </span>
   </li>
   <li class="shareMenu__item hide4 hide8 sharePopup__wrap">
     <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171119190147/http://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-truce-fades-in-fight-for-key-town-1424122730" class="shareIcon" data-sharemenu-action="link" data-sharemenu-wait-for-init="true" data-sharemenu-sync="link" data-sharemenu-track="permalink" aria-label="Copy link">
       <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--link" viewbox="0 0 19 19" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M2 13.7l1.3-1.3-.7-.6a1 1 0 0 1 0-1.3l7.8-7.7a1 1 0 0 1 .6-.3c.2 0 .5 0 .6.3l.7.6L13.6 2l-.7-.5c-1-1-3-1-4 0L1.5 9.2a2.7 2.7 0 0 0 0 3.8l.6.7zm16-7l-.6-.7L16 7.3l.8.6a1 1 0 0 1 0 1.2L9 17A1 1 0 0 1 8 17l-.7-.7-1 1.2.5.7c.5.5 1.2.8 2 .8.7 0 1.3-.3 2-.8l7.6-7.7a2.7 2.7 0 0 0 1-2c0-.7-.4-1.4-1-2m-1.2-5L18 2.8l-6.4 6.4L10.4 8zm-9 9L9 11.8l-6.4 6.4L1.4 17z"/></svg>
     </a>
     <span class="shareFeedback sharePopup sharePopup--oneline" data-sharemenu-isfeedback aria-hidden="true">Link copied…</span>
   </li>

</menu>
<!-- end share menu -->

  <!-- font controls -->
  <div class="shareScrim shareScrim--partial" id="fontScrim" aria-label="Font Size - press Esc to close">
    <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear shareScrim__close" data-sharemenu-action="partial-scrim" data-target="fontScrim" aria-label="close">
      <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--close" id="Layer_1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 21.9 22"><polygon id="XMLID_4_" points="12.2,11 12.2,10.9 21.9,1.2 20.7,0 10.9,9.7 1.2,0 0,1.2 9.7,10.9 9.7,11 9.7,11.1
    0,20.8 1.2,22 10.9,12.3 20.7,22 21.9,20.8 12.2,11.1 "/></svg>
  </span>
    <div class="shareScrim__content fontButtons">
      <span class="shareLabel2">Text Size</span>
  
      <input class="fontButtons__input fontButtons__input--scrim" type="radio" name="fontsize-scrim" value="regular" data-sharemenu-action="fontsize" data-sharemenu-sync="fontsizeregular" data-sharemenu-track="resize" id="fontsize-scrim-regular">
      <label class="fontButtons__label fontButtons__label--scrim" for="fontsize-scrim-regular">
        <div class="fontButton fontButton--small"><svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--fontButton" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 19 25"><path d="M5.406 16.565L4.25 20.8c-.7 2.52-.664 3.15 1.47 3.255l.77.035V25H.54v-.91c1.436-.175 1.68-.385 2.416-2.975L8.8.325h.7l6.3 21.455c.526 1.715.666 2.1 1.89 2.24l.596.07V25h-8.96v-.91l.595-.035c2.73-.175 2.416-.595 1.89-2.485l-1.4-5.005H5.407zm4.725-1.05l-2.24-7.98-2.204 7.98h4.445z"/></svg>
</div>
        Small
      </label>
  
      <input class="fontButtons__input fontButtons__input--scrim" type="radio" name="fontsize-scrim" value="medium" data-sharemenu-action="fontsize" data-sharemenu-sync="fontsizemedium" data-sharemenu-track="resize" id="fontsize-scrim-medium">
      <label class="fontButtons__label fontButtons__label--scrim" for="fontsize-scrim-medium">
        <div class="fontButton fontButton--medium"><svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--fontButton" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 19 25"><path d="M5.406 16.565L4.25 20.8c-.7 2.52-.664 3.15 1.47 3.255l.77.035V25H.54v-.91c1.436-.175 1.68-.385 2.416-2.975L8.8.325h.7l6.3 21.455c.526 1.715.666 2.1 1.89 2.24l.596.07V25h-8.96v-.91l.595-.035c2.73-.175 2.416-.595 1.89-2.485l-1.4-5.005H5.407zm4.725-1.05l-2.24-7.98-2.204 7.98h4.445z"/></svg>
</div>
        Medium
      </label>
  
      <input class="fontButtons__input fontButtons__input--scrim" type="radio" name="fontsize-scrim" value="large" data-sharemenu-action="fontsize" data-sharemenu-sync="fontsizelarge" data-sharemenu-track="resize" id="fontsize-scrim-large">
      <label class="fontButtons__label fontButtons__label--scrim" for="fontsize-scrim-large">
        <div class="fontButton fontButton--large"><svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--fontButton" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 19 25"><path d="M5.406 16.565L4.25 20.8c-.7 2.52-.664 3.15 1.47 3.255l.77.035V25H.54v-.91c1.436-.175 1.68-.385 2.416-2.975L8.8.325h.7l6.3 21.455c.526 1.715.666 2.1 1.89 2.24l.596.07V25h-8.96v-.91l.595-.035c2.73-.175 2.416-.595 1.89-2.485l-1.4-5.005H5.407zm4.725-1.05l-2.24-7.98-2.204 7.98h4.445z"/></svg>
</div>
        Large
      </label>
    </div>
  </div>
  <!-- end font controls -->

  
  
  
  
  
  
  <!-- scrim share menu -->
  <div class="shareScrim" id="shareScrim" aria-label="Share Menu - press Esc to close">
    <div class="shareScrim__content">
      <menu class="shareScrim__itemlist">
        <li class="shareScrim__item">
          <a href="#print" class="shareButton" data-sharemenu-action="print" data-sharemenu-track="print" title="Print">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--print" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 20 17.6"><path d="M-711-3365v4612H969v-4612H-711zM25 22.6H-5V-5h30v27.6z" fill="none"/><path d="M2.3 14.6h1v3h13.4v-3h1c1.3 0 2.3-1 2.3-2V9c0-1-1-2-2.2-2h-1V3.8l-4-3.8H3.4v7h-1C1 7 0 8 0 9v3.4c0 1.2 1 2.2 2.3 2.2zM12.5.6L16 4.2h-3.5V.8zM4 .7h8.2v4H16V7H4V.7zm0 14h12V17H4v-2.4z"/></svg>
          </span>
            Print
          </a>
        </li>
      <li class="shareScrim__item">
          <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171119190147/https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-truce-fades-in-fight-for-key-town-1424122730" data-sharemenu-action="clickthrough" data-sharemenu-track="facebook" class="shareButton shareButton--facebook" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--facebook" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 10.5 22.5"><path d="M10 11.3H7v11.2H2V11.3H0v-4h2.2V4.7C2.2 3 3.2 0 7 0h3.5v4H8c-.5 0-1 0-1 1v2.3h3.5l-.4 4z"/></svg>
          </span>
            Facebook
          </a>
        </li>
        <li class="shareScrim__item">
          <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171119190147/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Ukraine%20truce%20fades%20in%20fight%20for%20key%20town&url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-truce-fades-in-fight-for-key-town-1424122730&via=WSJ" class="shareButton shareButton--twitter" data-sharemenu-action="clickthrough" data-sharemenu-track="twitter" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--twitter" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 21.1 17.4"><path d="M19 4.3V5c0 5.7-4.4 12.4-12.4 12.4-2.4 0-4.7-.7-6.6-2h1c2 0 4-.6 5.4-1.8-2 0-3.5-1.3-4-3h1.8C2.3 10 1 8.2 1 6c.6.2 1.2.4 2 .4-1.2-.7-2-2-2-3.6 0-.8.3-1.6.7-2.2 2 2.7 5.3 4.4 9 4.6-.2-.3-.2-.7-.2-1 0-2.4 2-4.4 4.3-4.4 1.2 0 2.4.5 3 1.4 1-.2 2-.6 2.8-1-.3 1-1 1.8-2 2.3 1 0 1.8-.3 2.6-.7-.5 1-1.3 1.7-2 2.3"/></svg>
          </span>
            Twitter
          </a>
        </li>
        <li class="shareScrim__item">
          <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171119190147/whatsapp://send/?text=http://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-truce-fades-in-fight-for-key-town-1424122730" class="shareButton shareButton--whatsapp" data-sharemenu-track="whatsapp" rel="nofollow">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--whatsapp" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 20.3 20.4"><path d="M14.8 12.2c-.3 0-1.5-.7-1.7-.8h-.5l-.8 1c0 .3-.3.3-.5.2-.3 0-1-.4-2-1.3-.8-.7-1.3-1.5-1.4-1.7V9l.5-.3.3-.4V8l-1-2c0-.6-.4-.6-.5-.6h-.4c-.2 0-.4 0-.7.3-.3.3-1 1-1 2.2 0 1 1 2.3 1 2.5.2.2 2 2.7 4.4 3.8l1.4.5c.6.2 1.2.2 1.6 0 .5 0 1.5-.5 1.7-1 .3-.7.3-1.2.2-1.3l-.4-.3"/><path class="st0" d="M10.2 18.5c-1.5 0-3-.4-4.3-1.2l-.4-.2-3.2 1 .8-3-.2-.4c-.8-1.3-1.3-3-1.3-4.5 0-4.5 3.8-8.3 8.4-8.3 2.3 0 4.4 1 6 2.5 1.6 1.6 2.5 3.7 2.5 6 0 4.5-3.7 8.3-8.3 8.3m7-15.5c-1.8-2-4.3-3-7-3C4.6 0 .2 4.5.2 10c0 2 .4 3.6 1.2 5L0 20.5 5.4 19c1.5.8 3 1.2 4.8 1.2 5.6 0 10-4.5 10-10 0-2.8-1-5.3-3-7.2"/></svg>
          </span>
            WhatsApp
          </a>
        </li>
  
        <li class="shareScrim__item">
          <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171119190147/sms:/?&body=http://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-truce-fades-in-fight-for-key-town-1424122730" class="shareButton" data-sharemenu-track="sms">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--sms" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 13 21"><path d="M10.717.84h-8c-1.103 0-2 .897-2 2v16c0 1.104.897 2 2 2h8c1.103 0 2-.896 2-2v-16c0-1.104-.897-2-2-2zm-8 4h8v-2h-8v2zm0 10h8v-8h-8v8zm0 4h8v-2h-8v2z" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg>
          </span>
            SMS
          </a>
        </li>
  
  
        <li class="shareScrim__item">
          <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171119190147/http://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-truce-fades-in-fight-for-key-town-1424122730" class="shareButton" data-sharemenu-action="link" data-sharemenu-wait-for-init="true" data-sharemenu-sync="link" data-sharemenu-track="permalink">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--link" viewbox="0 0 19 19" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M2 13.7l1.3-1.3-.7-.6a1 1 0 0 1 0-1.3l7.8-7.7a1 1 0 0 1 .6-.3c.2 0 .5 0 .6.3l.7.6L13.6 2l-.7-.5c-1-1-3-1-4 0L1.5 9.2a2.7 2.7 0 0 0 0 3.8l.6.7zm16-7l-.6-.7L16 7.3l.8.6a1 1 0 0 1 0 1.2L9 17A1 1 0 0 1 8 17l-.7-.7-1 1.2.5.7c.5.5 1.2.8 2 .8.7 0 1.3-.3 2-.8l7.6-7.7a2.7 2.7 0 0 0 1-2c0-.7-.4-1.4-1-2m-1.2-5L18 2.8l-6.4 6.4L10.4 8zm-9 9L9 11.8l-6.4 6.4L1.4 17z"/></svg>
          </span>
            Copy Link
          </a>
          <span class="shareFeedback shareMsgBanner" data-sharemenu-isfeedback aria-hidden="true">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear shareIcon--inline shareIcon--gray">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--link" viewbox="0 0 19 19" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M2 13.7l1.3-1.3-.7-.6a1 1 0 0 1 0-1.3l7.8-7.7a1 1 0 0 1 .6-.3c.2 0 .5 0 .6.3l.7.6L13.6 2l-.7-.5c-1-1-3-1-4 0L1.5 9.2a2.7 2.7 0 0 0 0 3.8l.6.7zm16-7l-.6-.7L16 7.3l.8.6a1 1 0 0 1 0 1.2L9 17A1 1 0 0 1 8 17l-.7-.7-1 1.2.5.7c.5.5 1.2.8 2 .8.7 0 1.3-.3 2-.8l7.6-7.7a2.7 2.7 0 0 0 1-2c0-.7-.4-1.4-1-2m-1.2-5L18 2.8l-6.4 6.4L10.4 8zm-9 9L9 11.8l-6.4 6.4L1.4 17z"/></svg>
          </span>
            Link copied …
          </span>
        </li>
  
      </menu>
  
      <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear shareScrim__close" data-sharemenu-action="close" data-target="shareScrim" aria-label="close">
        <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--close" id="Layer_1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 21.9 22"><polygon id="XMLID_4_" points="12.2,11 12.2,10.9 21.9,1.2 20.7,0 10.9,9.7 1.2,0 0,1.2 9.7,10.9 9.7,11 9.7,11.1
      0,20.8 1.2,22 10.9,12.3 20.7,22 21.9,20.8 12.2,11.1 "/></svg>
    </span>
  
    </div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- end scrim share menu -->