Ukraine started evacuations of civilians from the town at the center of the deadliest flare-up in fighting in 1 1/2 months between government forces and separatist rebels, as western leaders condemned the “blatant” breach of a stalled peace accord aimed at resolving the almost three-year-long conflict.
Two buses took mothers and children out of Avdiyivka, about 20 kilometers (13 miles) from the eastern conflict zone’s biggest city, separatist-held Donetsk, and more vehicles are ready for others who want to leave, Fridon Vekua, an official at the town administration, said by phone on Feb. 1.