Ahead of peace talks, fighting intensifies in eastern Ukraine

World Today

People look at a missile embedded in the street after shelling in eastern Ukrainian city of Kramotorsk on February 10, 2015. At least six civilians were killed and 21 wounded in a rocket attack on Ukraine’s military headquarters in the war-torn east, local authorities said. AFP PHOTO/ VOLODYMYR SHUVAYEV

Fighting in eastern Ukraine intensified on Tuesday ahead of much-anticipated peace talks, with both sides claiming significant advances and the government accusing the rebels of shelling a town far behind the front lines.

The intense fighting, which the U.N. said has killed more than 5,300 people since April, comes ahead of a crucial summit involving Western leaders on Wednesday, which are to follow peace talks Tuesday.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told Parliament that Russian-backed rebels launched an artillery strike on the town of Kramatorsk, which is more than 50 kilometers (30 miles) away from the front line. Poroshenko said the first round of rocket fire hit the headquarters of the Ukrainian command in eastern Ukraine and the second landed in a residential area.

The government-controlled Donetsk regional administration said seven people were killed, while 16 people were injured in the residential area and 10 more at the military headquarters.

Kramatorsk was the site of major fighting until July when pro-Russian separatists retreated.

Local website Donetskiye Novosti posted photos from the scene, showing an artillery shell stuck in the ground next to a residential building and two bodies lying nearby. Rebels denied any involvement in the attack.

Report complied with information from The Associated Press