Ukraine rebel offensive marks dangerous new stage in conflict

A major offensive in eastern Ukraine by rebels allegedly backed by Russia has marked a dangerous new stage in the nine-month conflict and dashed hopes for a truce, pressuring Western nations to act. Rebels did not claim responsibility for the Grad and Uragan rockets that killed 30 people, but monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said they were fired from the direction of separatist-held areas. World leaders on Sunday ramped up pressure on Moscow to stop pro-Kremlin rebels from pursuing a major new Ukrainian offensive. The mayor of Mariupol’s office said 97 people were also wounded by dozens of long-distance rockets that smashed into a packed residential district and open market early in the morning and then again shortly after noon.

Obviously, everyone in the city is very scared.

Mariupol resident Eduard

Leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic Alexander Zakharchenko on Saturday claimed that “today, we launched an offensive against Mariupol”. He later denied ordering an actual invasion of the industrial Sea of Azov port of half million and his deputy rejected responsibility for the civilian deaths. But the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said the Grad and Uragan rocket fire came from two locations “controlled by the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’”.

Europe Mariupol