Ukraine: Army accuses pro-Russian rebels of launching a large scale offensive
Ukraine’s army on Wednesday accused pro-Russian forces of launching a new attack against its positions in breach of a brittle ceasefire, with at least one civilian killed and several others wounded in the fresh clashes.
Fighting has intensified around key hotspots on the frontline in eastern Ukraine and the latest violence revived fears that pro-Russian separatists may be readying for a new advance against Kiev forces.
Rebel forces began a “large-scale offensive against Ukrainian positions” close to the separatist stronghold of Donetsk at 4 am using about a dozen tanks and up to 1,000 troops, said Ukraine’s General Staff.
Government troops had fought back against the attack using heavy artillery, it added in a statement.