Fears mount of escalation in east Ukraine amid reports of 50,000 Russian troop build up
The flare-up in militant attacks and shelling of residential areas by Russian-backed forces have many wondering if this is the beginning of a new escalation; it comes amid reports from the Ukrainian security services that 50,000 Russian troops have amassed in and around Ukraine, Ukraine Today reports.
Two civilians have been reported dead in Sartana near the strategic port city of Mariupol as a result of the latest shelling by militants. Several more people, including a 10-year-old girl, were taken to hospital with wounds, according to Ukraine Today.
Fighting also flared elsewhere along the frontline: at least one man was killed here near the separatist stronghold of Donetsk.
Ukrainian officials said earlier this week that in the just in 24 hours, two Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and seven wounded by the Russian-terrorist forces.
Meanwhile, the Western governments regard a Minsk ceasefire agreement signed on February as the best chance of ending the hostilities in Donbas.
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