Russia Seizes More Territory in Ukraine, Eastern Europe with ‘Incremental’ Strategy

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Free Beacon:

Fighting has escalated in Ukraine six months after a ceasefire was supposed to end hostilities, raising fears that Russian-backed separatists could soon launch another offensive as the West focuses on other global crises.

 

Ukraine’s military reported 127 attacks on Monday by the pro-Russian rebels, including an assault by 400 separatists and tanks about 30 miles north of Mariupol, a strategic government-held port in southeastern Ukraine. Four vehicles belonging to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe were also torched last weekend in Donetsk, one of two main separatist enclaves in eastern Ukraine.

 

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry “expressed grave concern” Thursday about the escalation in rebel attacks in a phone call with Sergei Lavrov, his Russian counterpart. Kerry urged Russia to end its support for the separatists and stick to the Minsk ceasefire signed in mid-February.

 

The Kremlin has blamed Ukraine for the recent upsurge in attacks and has denied providing substantial support to the rebels, despite mounting evidence that it has sent thousands of Russian soldiers to aid the separatists.