Ukrainian government forces have advanced on several eastern towns amid heightened tension after the fatal clashes of recent days.<br /><br />Latest reports say pro-Russian rebels attacked a Ukrainian military unit at Luhansk, wounding two soldiers.<br /><br />Armed separatists have been reinforcing barricades in the town. The number of demonstrators is said to have increased dramatically.<br /><br />Earlier, at Kramatorsk, the security service headquarters and TV tower were recaptured from rebels by the National Guard on Saturday.<br /><br />Health authorities said at least six people were killed in fighting. Russian state media reported a higher number of casualties but there has been no independent confirmation.<br /><br />The army are said to have destroyed pro-Russian rebel checkpoints as they focus on smaller towns where separatists have been in control of government buildings.<br /><br />The larger town of Slovyansk remains surrounded, with residents said to be fearful of an all-out government assault.<br /><br />Pro-Russian protesters in Donetsk stormed the state security headquarters and the regional governor’s business premises.<br /><br />Demonstrators chanted “we won’t forget Odessa” following Friday’s fatal violence in the southern port city. At least 46 people were reported killed in clashes between pro-Kyiv and pro-Russian demonstrators.<br /><br />The EU has called for an independent inquiry into the violence and for those responsible to be brought to justice.<br /><br />Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has told his US counterpart John Kerry that the US should use its influence to make Ukraine’s government immediately stop military operations in south-east Ukraine, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.<br /><br />Lavrov also said that it was important that the mediating role of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) was increased to secure Kyiv’s fulfilment of the Geneva declaration on de-escalating tensions in Ukraine.<br /><br />Washington again said Moscow should stop backing pro-Russian separatists. Kerry warned that Russia risked incurring further sanctions.
