News Digest

Ukraine separatist leader vows to mobilise 100,000 men to tackle rebels

Pro-Russian separatists vowed on Monday to mobilise up to 100,000 fighters for their latest east Ukraine offensive as the U.S. mulled sending weapons to Kiev’s out-gunned forces after the latest truce bid collapsed. The ambitious pledge to dramatically escalate a nine-month conflict that has already left at least 5,100 people dead came as the rebels battled to encircle beleaguered transport hub Debaltseve. “There will be general mobilisation in the (separatist) Donetsk People’s Republic in 10 days’ time, we plan on mobilising up to 100,000 men,” rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko told the separatist news agency DAN.

Rebel negotiators in Minsk are not even prepared to discuss implementation of a ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Fighting in Ukraine’s industrial heartland has intensified in recent days, with Kiev officials and local authorities saying Monday that five Ukrainian soldiers and three civilians had been killed in the last 24 hours. Fighting in east Ukraine claimed around 50 lives over the weekend, as the latest attempt at truce talks collapsed in acrimony in Minsk on Saturday. Ukrainian military spokesman Volodymyr Polyovyi in Kiev said Sunday that “constant battles” were going on around railway hub Debaltseve but pledged that government forces would not give up control of the last remaining road into the town.