国际英语新闻:Rebels in E. Ukraine launch military exercises

KIEV, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The leadership of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine said Tuesday that it had launched military exercises in some areas in the insurgents-controlled Donetsk region.

The main goal of the drills is "to improve the combat strength" of the insurgent forces, the self-styled defence ministry said in a statement, which was published by the rebel-run Donetsk News Agency.

Senior insurgent commander Eduard Basurin said the three-day maneuvers, which had been planned beforehand, are "compatible" with the Minsk peace agreement signed last month.

"During the drills, we will take into account the distance to the contact line enshrined in the Minsk agreement," Basurin said.

The military exercises will be conducted away from the weapon-free 50-km buffer zone with the Ukrainian army, he said, adding that the maneuvers will involve mortars, infantry fighting vehicles and other weaponry.

Basurin gave no details of the number of troops and items of weaponry to be deployed during the drills.

The military exercises came after the warring sides in eastern Ukraine claimed they had withdrawn their heavy weapons from the frontline in line with the Minsk deal.