by Stephen Lendman

It didn't surprise. Talks were futile. Kiev straightaway breached what it agreed to.

What it didn't intend observing in the first place. Even though ceasefire and other terms don't officially take effect until February 15.

At the same time, Russia and rebels are consistently blamed for Kiev crimes. Propaganda wars rage. Outrageous Big Lies substitute for hard truths. Western media scoundrels sunk to new lows, if that's possible, given their longstanding scandalous geopolitical misreporting.

Voice of Sevastopol reported heavy Kiev Friday shelling of civilian areas. It cited military correspondent Alexander Kievsky saying Lugansk is on fire.

It suffered another powerful bombardment. Ukrainian army provocations continue without letup.

Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) 2nd artillery brigade chief of staff said:

"The militia went on the offensive on Debaltsevo. The fighters strengthened their positions in Logvinovo and successfully (fought) off all the attacks of AFU (armed forces of Ukraine)."

"Militias launched an offensive along the route to Debaltsevo. The plans are to enter the city and start cleanup."

"There are fierce artillery duels on the north direction of the front. Punishers are firing with rocket launchers from Stanitsa Luganskaya, militia, in turn, suppress enemy firing points with surgical strikes."

Fighting continues in other areas, including tank battles and artillery shelling.

A rebel fighter using the call sign "Schastlivy" said:

"It's hell in Chernukhino. AFU corpses lying around everywhere. We are not driven out. We are there."

"I saw an explosion in the area of Debaltsevo. Loss of Ukrainians - 74 people."

"Plus APC burned. There are about 10 people killed around. There are wounded. We have 5 people."

Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Defense Ministry spokesman Eduard Basurin said:

"Today, February 13, 4 (Kiev) attempts to break through were recorded in the direction of Logvinovo."

"Losing 2 tanks, 9 infantry fighting vehicles and up to 40 people killed and wounded."

"The enemy retreated. DPR Army Divisions strengthened the positions and block the Ukrainian security forces there."

"Militia destroyed Ukrainian column of ammunition and fuel on a country road through the village of Rassadki."

"At the direction of Donetsk, enemy (forces) fired at residential neighborhoods of the DPR capital."

"Totally 8 attacks were recorded in the city, 15 attacks in the area of Donetsk airport."

"Two civilians were killed, 8 injured. At Mariupol direction AFU continued to fire with heavy weapons at DPR militia positions."

US supplied cluster munitions are being used against Lugansk and Donetsk. On Friday, OSCE observers reported their use.

Fighting so far rages throughout Donbas. Expect short-term letup (not cessation) once ceasefire terms take effect on Sunday.

Followed days or weeks later by escalated fighting initiated by Kiev forces on orders from Washington. Wrongfully blamed on Russia and rebels.

The same Big Lie blame game continues since Kiev launched naked aggression last April.

A Friday US-initiated G7 statement sounded an ominous tone. Saying "Russian-backed separatist militias are operating beyond the line of contact agreed upon in the Minsk agreements of September 2014, causing numerous civilian casualties."

Ignoring Kiev forces shelling Donetsk and Lugansk hospitals, schools, residential areas and city streets. Deliberately killing civilian men, women and children.

G7 leaders threatened more sanctions on Russia. Expressed support for Kiev's illegitimate putschist regime.

"Commend(ed) its (nonexistent) commitment to implement…ambitious reform(s) with regard to economic, rule-of-law, and democratic reforms."

Ukraine is a US-installed illegitimate fascist police state. It intends greater bloodshed ahead than already on beleaguered Donbas residents.

Russia justifiably calls its regime a "party of war." On February 12, Moscow's OSCE representative Andrey Kelin said Kiev continues "(f)ueling militarist hysteria."

It pursues a "military path." It's "aggressively militarizing…There (are) calls to 'take revenge' for the summer 'military failure' and to 'Ukrainianise Donbas' by force" regardless of Minsk ceasefire terms.

Political censorship is rife. "Apparently, establishing a Ministry of Truth wasn't enough."

Regime legislation "sets 'general criteria for classifying audiovisual materials (considered) damaging to Ukraine's national security.' "

In other words, anything revealing important truths Kiev wants suppressed.

"The law prohibits the screening of all Russian films. Likewise there is the total ban on accrediting Russian journalists in Ukraine."

"The Ukrainian journalist Kotsaba was arrested for treason for commenting on the mobilisation."

"Now it seems any journalist or public figure may be accused of treason for statements that don’t follow the official line."

"Where are the responses from free press activists," asked Kelin? Western presstitute media silence is deafening.

Proposed Kiev legislation criminalizes public speech denying nonexistent "Russian aggression."

The measure makes "public denial or justification of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine in 2014-2015 a felony."

Punishable by heavy fines. Up to five years imprisonment for repeat offenders.

In other words, proposed Ukrainian legislation virtually certain to be enacted criminalizes truth - written or spoken publicly.

Last week, Ukrainian journalist Rusian Kotsaba was jailed for two months pending further disposition of his case for opposing military conscription.

He called Kiev's Donbas aggression "fratricidal war." Prosecutors charged him with high treason.

He likely faces longterm imprisonment. Perhaps death if extremist long knives kill him.

Kelin was clear and unequivocal saying war in Donbas will "only stop when (Kiev) puts an end to the rampant radicalism and nationalism; when society unites around positive values and Ukraine’s genuine interests."

Polar opposite conditions exist so far. Right Sector and other radicalized elements vow to keep fighting.

Former Azov paramilitary deputy commander Igor Moseichuk said he'll do whatever it takes to subvert Minsk. He called it "an act of treason."

"Betrayal of national interests. This is the sole way of describing the text," he said. Tass reported hard-right extremists commanding large numbers of forces determined to continue war, avoid peace.

Ukraine's illegitimate foreign minister Pavlo Klimkin violated Minsk terms straightaway. Saying rebels won't be granted amnesty.

He denied agreed on regime responsibility to institute constitutional reforms and grant Donbas regional autonomy.

DPR parliament Speaker Andrey Purgin commented saying Kiev won't "implement the law on amnesty."

It's "forming an entire class of political prisoners. It is nothing but a witch hunt." Dissidents are being ruthlessly persecuted.

"This is a collapse of society," said Purgin. "Tens of thousands of criminal cases, thousands of people kept at detention wards."

"And I would like to stress one thing. When we had the latest mass exchange of prisoners, we released people who had come here to shoot at us, but among the 220 people released by the Ukrainian side only 34 had been self-defence fighters."

"It means that the rest of these people were political prisoners." Thousands languish unjustly in Kiev's gulag.

Donbas rebels are earmarked for similar treatment. Minsk terms mean nothing.

Obama's new friends are ruthless gangsters. Cutthroat killers. Anti-Semite hate-mongers. Waging war on freedom to eliminate it altogether.

As long as Obama wants war, not peace, conflict will continue. So will outrageous Russia bashing. Blaming Moscow for Kiev crimes.

Resolving things diplomatically remains pure fantasy. Minsk changed nothing. After a short-term letup, expect escalated conflict.

Moscow irresponsibly blamed. Stiffer sanctions imposed. Increased chance for East/West confrontation.

Perhaps nearing a tipping point toward global warfare. America's rage for war makes anything possible. World peace hangs in the balance.

-###-

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.