US accuses Russia of aggravating situation in eastern Ukraine

 “We are deeply troubled by a sharp rise in attacks in eastern Ukraine, particularly the heavy artillery assault on government-controlled Starognativka. In the last three days, three Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 35 wounded. Ukrainians reported 127 different separatist attacks, the most since Debaltseve – since the Debaltseve offensive in February. Russia and the separatists it supports cannot simultaneously talk peace and then fight. If they want peace, they must implement the full ceasefire that they agreed to in Minsk". As we reported earlier on Monday night 400 rebel fighters supported by tanks attacked government forces around the village of Starohnativka, 30 miles north of the Kiev-held port city of Mariupol. The rebels denied attacking government troops. John Kirby also mentioned a recent attack on the OSCE SMM to Ukraine. "We are also deeply concerned about the arson attack over the weekend that destroyed four OSCE vehicles in Donetsk. We call on the separatists to provide security for the OSCE monitoring mission and allow it to do its vital work.” said John Kirby.