Ukrainian troops withdraw from Debaltseve

 Ukraine has pulled most of its troops out of Debaltseve, the President confirmed on Wednesday. Dozens of troops were seen retreating and Russia-backed separatists reported taking hundreds of soldiers captive as they continued their onslaught on the strategic railroad junction in eastern Ukraine.
The army has withdrawn out 80 per cent of its troops from the town and two more columns have yet to leave, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on his official Twitter account. He denied claims by the rebels that the Ukrainians were encircled and said the troops were leaving Debaltseve with their weapons and ammunition.
“Debaltseve was under our control, it was never encircled. Our troops and formations have left in an organized and planned manner,” he said in televised comments.
Mr. Poroshenko spoke at a Kiev airport as he traveled to eastern Ukraine to “shake hands” of the soldiers who were pulled out of Debaltseve.
Rebel spokesman Eduard Basurin said hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered in Debaltseve. Russian state-owned television on Wednesday showed images of several dozen Ukrainian troops being escorted along a village road by the rebels.