Rebel leader announces new assault as 30 die in Ukraine’s Mariupol

At least 29 people were killed by rockets that slammed into a market, two schools, homes and shops in the east Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on Saturday, regional police said. Ukraine’s top rebel leader said a new offensive to gain control of the port had begun.  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 announced they would engage in a multi-pronged offensive toward Kiev in an attempt to vastly increase the land they control. Mariupol is the major city that lies between mainland Russia and the Russia-annexed Crimea.

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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