Our Ukrainian Service quotes Ukrainian military officials saying separatist forces launched 64 attacks on the eve of the "Day of Silence," killing at least two people and injuring 10 noncombatants.
Fresh comments on today's "Day Of Silence" and the prospect of cease-fire talks, from our newsroom:
A Ukrainian military spokesman said on December 9 that government forces have "suspended all combat actions and are ready for the Day of Silence."
The spokesman added that "if separatists attack, we will fire in response."
The pro-Russian separatists who hold parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk provinces have said they would also comply.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced the September 9 truce plan, saying it was included in a cease-fire deal signed in Minsk on September 5.
He said a new round of peace talks would probably be held on December 9, but several offocials and separatist leaders have said they are likely to be held later in the week, probably on December 12.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the talks would be held "in the coming days."
Based on reporting by Reuters and RIA Novosti
From our newsroom:
Ukraine Attempts 'Day Of Silence' Truce
That concludes our live blogging for Monday, December 8. Follow our continued coverage of events in Ukraine and all around our broadcast area HERE.
From our newsroom:
Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko has donated 1 million rubles ($19,000) to a theater in rebel-held eastern Ukraine.
The renowned soprano made her donation on December 8 in St. Petersburg, where she is a star of the Mariinsky Theater.
Russian television showed her giving the check to Oleg Tsarev, a leader of the pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk region, and posing with a separatist flag.
Netrebko said the money is for the Donetsk Opera and Ballet Theater, where she said performers are struggling on with their art despite the freezing cold.
The move came a day after a dozen ballet stars participated in a gala at Moscow's Bolshoi Theater in support of young dancers in Ukraine.
Proceeds from the gala will go toward the Kyiv State Ballet School where organizers say young dancers are trained in poor conditions.
Based on reporting by AFP and dpa
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt told the Atlantic Council in Washington today:
"I think it's important not to go down the rabbit hole, not to fall into the trap of trying to meet Russia on their ground in terms of misrepresentation or propaganda. But the best answer to that propaganda is the truth: a consistent presentation of Ukrainian government reality and Ukrainian government intentions, including Ukrainian government intentions regarding Eastern Ukraine and the imperative of national unity."
"The greatest single risk factor facing Ukraine today is business as usual. And the good news is that both the president, President [Petro] Poroshenko, and Prime Minister [Arseniy] Yatsenyuk are fully aware of that imperative."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's $16.4 billion "Global Humanitarian Appeal 2015," announced today, includes $189.1 million in funding for Ukraine, where it says there are 900,000 people who need assistance.