Updated 12:02 p.m. Moscow Time
MOSCOW, October 11 (RIA Novosti) - The Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic Aleksandr Zakharchenko on Saturday announced the introduction of a "silent regime".
"Starting today, a 'silent regime' will enter into force. Once it has lasted for five days, the abstraction of artillery and heavy equipment will begin," Zakharchenko stated.
An armed conflict in Ukraine's southeast began in April when Kiev launched a military operation against independence supporters in the region. Almost 3,700 people have been killed and over 8,800 have been wounded since the start of the operation, according to a UN report published on Friday.
On September 5, the two conflicting sides agreed on a ceasefire during a meeting in Minsk of the trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine. Both sides have subsequently accused each other of violating the agreement.
On Saturday, the Donetsk mayor's office informed that three civilians had been killed and four obtained injuries during a shootout in the city. A RIA Novosti correspondent has reported hearing powerful explosions in the Donetsk city center.