Rebel leader announces new assault as 20 die in Ukraine’s Mariupol

At least 20 people were killed by shelling in the east Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on Saturday, regional police said, as a rebel leader said separatists were launching an offensive on the city, the news agency RIA reported. A witness described the shelling to Reuters as enough to knock the paint off his house. The deaths follow the separatists’ rejection of more peace talks and as fighting surged to its most intense in months.

Today, we launched an offensive against Mariupol. This will be the best tribute possible for all our dead.

Donetsk separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko

Despite international calls for a ceasefire, rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko (pictured, left) vowed on Friday his forces would push on with a new offensive, as the UN said the conflict, which began in east Ukraine more than nine months ago, was now in its “most deadly period” since a peace deal was agreed last September. He said separatists plan to encircle Debaltseve, a town north-east of Donetsk, in the next few days. The Kiev military reported “high-intensity” rebel attacks on government positions.

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