KYIV, Aug. 25 - Forces fighting in eastern Ukraine have committed to a ceasefire before the start of the new school year, BBC reported citing OSCE representative Ambassador Martin Sajdik.

The truce is to take hold at midnight on Friday, he said.

Shelling has previously marred the 1 September return to school for children - an occasion that is widely celebrated in Ukraine.

However, past ceasefires have failed to bring about a prevailing peace.