Ukraine declares heavy weapons pullback from front line

Kiev - Ukrainian military officials say government forces are withdrawing heavy rocket launchers from the front line with Russian-backed separatists in accordance with last month's ceasefire accord.

Military spokesperson Colonel Andriy Lysenko said the Uragan launchers were being pulled back by 35km from the line of contact.

Both sides in the conflict, which has claimed more than 6 000 lives since flaring up in April, have given assurances they are complying with pullback requirements. Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe have complained that they have been obstructed from conducting exhaustive verifications, however.