By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

KIEV, Ukraine – A march in Kharkiv was interrupted today by an explosion that led to the deaths of two and wounding fifteen others. A second bomb was found in a shopping bag in Odessa, but was defused by police.

The rallies today were held in honor of the overthrow of the former Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych, an ally to Russia. Some members of the parades, bearing Ukrainian flags, yelled “glory to the heroes!” Shortly thereafter, an explosion caused over a dozen casualties. Current President Petro Poroshenko said on Facebook, “[t]his is a brazen attempt to expand the territory of terrorism.”

Markian Lubkivskyi, an aide to the head of Ukraine’s SBU security forced, reports that four suspects have been arrested for planning attacks in Kharkiv with a Russian “Shmel” rocket launcher. These citizens, he reports, received weapons and training in Belgorod, a Russian city just across the Ukrainian border from Kharkiv. Moscow has not answered to these claims as of yet. Also, fighting around Mariupol, this time in the village of Shyrokyne, has been reported as well.

Fighting has been on the decline, however, over the past several days. Following the grave situation in Debaltseve, Kiev’s troops made a safe withdrawal and violence in and around the city has dwindled. Kiev reports that both sides are beginning to pull back heavy weapons, in accordance with the recent Minsk agreement. Further, 139 Ukrainian troops and 52 rebels have been exchanged to the village of Zholobok, west of rebel-held Luhansk. While this is not the entirety of prisoners, it is certainly a step in the right direction towards peace.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Ukraine fears spread of war after blast in eastern city – 22 February 2015

The New York Times – New Violence Belies Talk Of Peace In Ukraine – 22 February 2015

ABC – Blast Hits March in Eastern Ukraine, Killing 2 – 22 February 2015

The World Post – Ukraine Says It Will Start Pulling Back Heavy Weapons – 22 February 2015

NBC – First Ukraine War Prisoner Exchange Completed – 21 February 2015

The New York Times – Ukraine Town Eases Back Into Life After Deadly Week of Fighting – 20 February 2015