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Pro-Russian rebels fire artillery grad rockets towards Debaltseve on February 18. Ukrainian troops have been forced to retreat from the town following continued fighting in spite of the recent ceasefire agreement.
Pierre Crom![galleries/2015/02/18/fractured-peace-in-the-ukraine-photos/150217-ukraine-ceasefire1-tease_rdyxms](https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/AT7V4L46ZZJOZCLZ5RI3BF377I.jpg?auth=bc1cd7a392882b82dcbcf222a6411cbeb881b623651a1313739f28e6ca074ea2&width=800&height=533)
A local resident reacts as a firefighter extinguishes a building after shelling in Artemivsk, eastern Ukraine, on Feb. 14.
Gleb Garanich/Reuters![galleries/2015/02/18/fractured-peace-in-the-ukraine-photos/150217-ukraine-ceasefire4-tease_f8bdi6](https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/DZ2O4MTCIBKGLOA54PX37MALQM.jpg?auth=59e86a165ff15f00fe416859717c142498d4e329c30b6f68bc8e1b1507e00f21&width=800&height=533)
Members of the separatist army of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic collect parts of a destroyed Ukrainian army tank in the town of Vuhlehirsk, about six miles to the west of Debaltseve.
Baz Ratner/Reuters![galleries/2015/02/18/fractured-peace-in-the-ukraine-photos/150217-ukraine-ceasefire3-tease_sla8y3](https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/ZJS6TULV3BNPBF2NZWFAX7CDFI.jpg?auth=fa1c87658f08f241bfe638b49aa9df182ec58aed9c577a24ed84be8e3e98ec4d&width=800&height=533)
Members of the Ukrainian armed forces ride on a military vehicle near Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine, on February 16, 2015.
Gleb Garanich/Reuters![galleries/2015/02/18/fractured-peace-in-the-ukraine-photos/150217-ukraine-ceasefire2-tease_dbzygz](https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/L6R6LKK4IJJSBFD6TYQH7AOMGU.jpg?auth=1ed03abd6b972a9c514218d7a15204552f534b3a571a7b2ab9db3a305484d978&width=800&height=533)
A view of an explosion after shelling is seen not far from Debaltseve on Tuesday. Government forces and pro-Russian separatists said they would not carry out an agreement to pull back heavy guns in east Ukraine, pushing a shaky peace deal closer to collapse.
Gleb Garanich/Reuters![galleries/2015/02/18/fractured-peace-in-the-ukraine-photos/150218-ukraine-unrest-2_owue6z](https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/LWF2LDSX4NOEFKPQVBICLXYE6Y.jpg?auth=1fa7676cd2d0fd375a4c5b993a57bf86f9c559b056b1bdd7ca817b651bedf71e&width=800&height=533)
A wounded Ukrainian soldier arrives at a hospital in Artemivsk. Government forces started pulling out of the nearby town of Debatlseve on Wednesday after a fierce assault by Russian-backed separatists. Europe and the U.S. have blamed Russian president Vladimir Putin for violating the tenuous ceasefire.
é Gleb Garanich / Reuters![galleries/2015/02/18/fractured-peace-in-the-ukraine-photos/150218-ukraine-unrest-3_usynf3](https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/LF4IHQ2EQZMZ7AMUAQKFF37EUQ.jpg?auth=c809e268c8ce655baa33940cc5fefa511e655c80a9199ee0432699664716f3d7&width=800&height=533)
A Ukrainian serviceman sits inside a broken-down vehicle outside Artemivsk, Ukraine. After weeks of relentless fighting, the embattled Ukrainian rail hub of Debaltseve fell Wednesday to Russia-backed separatists, who hoisted a flag in triumph over the town. The Ukrainian president confirmed that he had ordered troops to pull out and the rebels reported taking hundreds of soldiers captive.
Vadim Ghirda/AP![galleries/2015/02/18/fractured-peace-in-the-ukraine-photos/150217-ukraine-ceasefire5-tease_xu9wsw](https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/DUQHPZL2J5ODVKYKUOC5TH7LLU.jpg?auth=1a4f457bf1a5eaed5c3b8d334acde8ff50ba950a120b359f0c1f7465fdf63390&width=800&height=533)
A woman sits in a shelter in the town of Enakievo near Donetsk. Fighting intensified in eastern Ukraine over the weekend as separatist rebels tried to seize more territory before the ceasefire took effect.
Baz Ratner/Reuters