ANTI-FASCIST rebels in eastern Ukraine reportedly grabbed the key transport hub of Debaltseve today and seized several government troops in an ambush.

The assault took place during a ceasefire proclaimed in Minsk, Belarus, last week, but the rebels insist that the truce does not apply to Debaltseve as it is in their territory.

The city is a major railway hub and the government garrison there is surrounded.

Rebel commander Vladimir Kononov said on Russian television that most of Debaltseve was under their control and urged the Ukrainian troops to surrender.

“Their only choice is to leave behind weaponry, lay down arms and surrender,” he said.

Kiev denied that rebels had gained control of the city but admitted that a number of its soldiers had been captured in an ambush.

Both sides were meant to be withdrawing their heavy weapons from the front today but Kiev complained that it wouldn’t do so unless the attack ceased.

However rebel military official Eduard Basurin announced that eastern forces “will take the initiative” regardless of what the government troops do.

North-east of Debaltseve, the leader of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic Igor Plotnitsky said: “I was at the front line last night, and our tanks, our artillery were pulling back.”

Fighting has stopped or subsided in some parts of war-torn eastern Ukraine, however. Mr Basurin said separatists had not seen any violations of the ceasefire in the area around the rebel stronghold of Donetsk since Monday night.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesman Rupert Colville said that the UN is “alarmed” by reports of continued shelling in the areas and has not yet been able to get reliable information on the casualties there and the wellbeing of civilians.

“It is unclear how many civilians are still there,” he said. “We are particularly concerned about the civilians trapped in the area — we believe there may be a few thousand hiding in cellars, struggling to get food, water and other basic necessities.”