Both sides claim violations after cease-fire

Severe escalation in fighting foreseen if agreement reached in Minsk by four leaders fails to hold

A cease-fire was declared in eastern Ukraine at one minute after midnight on Sunday, kindling slender hopes of a reprieve from a conflict that has claimed more than 5,300 lives.

But within two hours of the cease-fire's scheduled start, the warring sides were already trading accusations of fresh attacks.