Cease-fire declared in months-long battle for airport of rebel-held Ukraine city

KIEV, Ukraine – Ukrainian security officials say a cease-fire has been declared in the fight for the airport in the separatist rebel stronghold of Donetsk.

The military press service said Monday that the truce was agreed after negotiations between officials from Ukraine and Russia.

Although Russian-backed separatists hold the eastern city, government troops still control part of the Donetsk airport complex, serving as an irritant to rebel forces. Fighting has raged there since May.

A nominal overall cease-fire was agreed in September, but daily fighting has continued all the same. The U.N says more than 4,300 people have been killed since the conflict began in mid-April.

Ukrainian officials said Monday that in the past 24 hours rebels had carried out rocket attacks on several areas across the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.