SPARTAK, Ukraine — Shelling and other clashes between government forces and Russian-backed separatists threw the cease-fire agreement in eastern Ukraine into deepening peril Sunday, two days after it took hold.
At least two houses hit by artillery fire blazed in the rural village of Spartak, which lies just north of the main rebel-held city of Donetsk and adjacent to the airport.
A group of rebel fighters in the village danced and drank Sunday morning in celebration after what they said was a successful assault on a Ukrainian military encampment in the area. One said the group had captured eight government troops, though no captives could be seen. The fighter, who gave only the nom de guerre "Khokhol," said the truce was not being respected by either side.
"There was mortar shelling around 20 minutes ago here in Spartak," he said. "There is no cease-fire for anyone."
The truce — signed on Friday by Ukraine, Russia and the Kremlin-backed rebels after five months of fighting — was first shattered late Saturday by shelling on the outskirts of the coastal town of Mariupol. The city council said Sunday that one civilian was killed and a serviceman wounded. A rebel statement said Ukrainian forces fired on their positions in six locations on Saturday, including near the airport, and "several" rebels were killed.
IN-DEPTH
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