Ukrainian rebels in country's east claim to be pulling back smaller weapons

Alexey Vorobiev, right, and Artem Ostroushko visit their apartments damaged by tank shelling in Avdiivka, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine on Saturday, July 18, 2015. Ukraine's Russia-backed separatist rebels say they are ready to pull back smaller-caliber weapons from much of the front line in eastern Ukraine. (AP / Evgeniy Maloletka)

MOSCOW -- Ukraine's separatist rebels say they have begun pulling back military vehicles with small-calibre weapons from most of the front line in their war with Ukrainian forces.

The claims Sunday by the Russia-backed rebels in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions could not immediately be confirmed. The rebels said tanks and armoured vehicles with weapons under 100mm would be pulled back three kilometres (two miles) from most of front line in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian Gen.-Maj. Andrei Taran dismissed the rebel claims as a deceptive.

A February agreement called for a cease-fire and for both sides to pull back heavy weaponry. Although fighting diminished, deadly clashes still continue, with three more civilians reported killed Saturday.

More than 6,400 people have been killed since the war started in April 2014, the UN says.