International Crisis Group

Ukraine rebel offensive marks dangerous new stage in conflict | Mike Smith

Kiev (AFP) - 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.

A deadly rocket attack on the port city of Mariupol on Saturday highlighted a week-long rebel advance that has seen the separatists take the long-disputed Donetsk airport and pledge to conquer more territory.

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.

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