ORAC,
NYT correspondent talking to a Ukraine batallion commander is as truly as a Russian media correspondent talking to an Assad army officer in Suria. Totally biased.
Better look at official reports of the OSCE, they issue them on a regular basis. Teethless OSCE is also pro current Ukrainian regime and biased accordingly, but at least their monitoring mission is permanently deployed in the area and is visiting every now and then both conflicting Ukrainian sides.
Here is their latest report as of Feb. 20:
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 19 February 2016 | OSCE
In fact, uncontrolled (or poorly controlled) armed gangs on both sides shooting at each other.....