Bombings continued on Friday on both sides of the front in Bahmut, the epicenter of the fighting in eastern Ukraine, despite the entry into force of a ceasefire unilaterally announced earlier by Moscow, AFP reports, Agerpres reads.

Gunfire from both the Ukrainian and Russian sides continued to be heard after the ceasefire began at 09:00 GMT in the city with the streets largely destroyed and deserted, but less intense than in previous days.

A unilateral ceasefire decreed by Russia in Ukraine on the occasion of the old-style Orthodox Christmas was supposed to start at noon on Friday (12:00 Moscow time – 09:00 GMT), although the sincerity of the initiative has been questioned by Kyiv.

Agerpres