Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

A further strain on a shaky truce: Fighting escalates in eastern Ukraine

A further strain on a shaky truce: Fighting escalates in eastern Ukraine
Copyright 
By Sarah Taylor with AP, Reuters
Published on
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button

The Minsk ceasefire is once more on shaky ground, with the outbreak of fresh fighting in eastern Ukraine. Both the Ukrainian military and

ADVERTISEMENT

The Minsk ceasefire is once more on shaky ground, with the outbreak of fresh fighting in eastern Ukraine.

Both the Ukrainian military and pro-Russian rebels have accused each other of intensifying attacks in recent days.

Reports suggest at least six Ukrainian servicemen were killed between Monday and Tuesday (April 13-14), representing the heaviest loss in weeks for pro-Kyiv forces.

Some 12 were wounded in a surge in fighting, which has been largely concentrated around rebel-held Donetsk, according to government spokesperson Andriy Lysenko.

Meanwhile, pro-Russian officials say the Ukrainian military has repeatedly fired rounds of artillery at rebel positions, the separatist news agency DAN reports.

Report from @OSCE on renewed intensive fighting around #Donetsk & #Shyrokyne http://t.co/ZvQtOVCJI0 pic.twitter.com/IrGRHBSHPM

— Rodrigo Barbosa (@RodaLarga) April 14, 2015

‘Grave concern’

Foreign ministers from Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France have condemned the renewed conflict and expressed “grave concern” over the ceasefire violations, but vowed to continue discussions.

More than 6,000 people have been killed since fighting began in the east last April.

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more

Ministers meet in Berlin to try and preserve Ukraine's fragile truce

Zelenskyy rejects Putin's proposal to meet in Moscow and offers to talk in Kyiv

Russia launches over 500 drones and missiles at Ukraine in massive overnight attack