Ukraine Fighting Intensifies -- News Roundup February 1, 2017

South China Morning Post/AFP: Global alarm over Ukraine fighting as death toll rises

Government forces and Russian-backed separatists exchanged mortar and rocket fire for a fourth day around the flashpoint eastern town of Avdiivka

he death toll from the latest escalation in fighting in Ukraine rose to 19 on Wednesday as international alarm rang out over the spike in bloodshed in the European Union’s back yard.
Government forces and Russian-backed separatists exchanged mortar and rocket fire for a fourth day around the flashpoint eastern town of Avdiivka just north of the rebels’ de facto capital Donetsk.
The Ukrainian military said three of its soldiers had died overnight while the rebels said four civilians had been killed.

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WNU Editor: When I read this story yesterday .... Anxious Ukraine Risks Escalation In 'Creeping Offensive' (RFE) .... I said to myself that the intensity of the fighting will increase .... which unfortunately it has. The Ukraine government is also deeply worried that President Trump wants to find some accommodation with Putin on the Ukraine conflict .... and I cannot help but wonder if this is Kiev's way of making sure that such an "accommodation" will not happen.

More News On The Ukraine War

Fighting in Ukraine Heats Up -- AP
Eastern Ukraine Rocked by Fighting Between Government Troops and Russia-Backed Rebels -- TIME/AP
At least 12 Ukrainian soldiers killed in disputed east -- USA Today
Fighting flares in eastern Ukraine -- CNN
Fighting between Ukraine and Russia is heating up again -- Reuters
Ninth soldier killed in fighting as situation in town in eastern Ukraine detoriates -- UPI
Kiev admits advancing on rebels in east Ukrainian town 'meter by meter’ -- RT
Ukraine: People flee frontline eastern town amid upsurge in violence -- Euronews
Ukraine Starts Evacuating Eastern Town Where Battle Rages On -- Bloomberg
US Sounds Warning Over Ukraine Clashes, Which Claim Top Separatist -- VOA
UN Security Council calls for return to Ukraine ceasefire -- DW
Ukraine conflict: UN warns of dangerous deterioration -- BBC
Ukraine Contact Group Urges Immediate Cease-Fire Amid Surging Violence -- RFE
NATO issues dire Ukraine warning as death toll hits 19 -- AFP
NATO urges Russia to help stop violence in east Ukraine -- Reuters
Ukraine clashes leave several dead and test Trump's Russia stance -- The Guardian
Near Ukraine war's front lines, curiosity about the Trump effect -- CNN
All eyes on Trump amid "serious spike" in Ukraine war -- CBS/AP
Could violence in Ukraine be a precursor to something worse? -- Phillip Williams, ABC News Online