Skirmishes turn deadly in Ukraine

The Ukrainian military announced the casualties on Thursday amidst increased violence in the east of the country.

The rise in military and civilian deaths over the past two weeks has pushed Germany and France to organize a new dialogue with President Petro Poroshenko in the hopes of preserving the fragile peace.

Oleksander Motuzyanyk, a military spokesman, said separatists were once again shelling government troops near rebel-held Donetsk and firing mortars in villages near the port city of Mariupol, held by Kyiv.

"In this area the enemy does not engage in direct fighting with the Ukrainian army, but regularly fires chaotically from howitzers and GRAD multiple rocket launchers," he said.

Officials in separatist regions accused Ukrainian soldiers of firing on rebel territory.

NATO emphasized on Wednesday that Moscow had a "special responsibility" to end the fighting. The organization also warned rebels against attempting to expand their territory.

Germany lends a helping hand

Germany's air force is set to evacuate nine servicemen seriously injured in the fighting on Thursday. The wounded will receive medical treatment at German military hospitals.

The Airbus A310 Medevac, described by the German Luftwaffe as an "intensive care ward with wings," is expected in Berlin late on Thursday evening. Five men are to be treated in the German capital.

The remaining four Ukrainians will be airlifted to Hamburg for treatment in a second military hospital.

Saving the peace deal

German chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande were instrumental in brokering a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv six months ago in Minsk. The duo is set to meet with Poroshenko in Berlin on Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will be noticeably absent from the talks. The exclusion is seen as a diplomatic rebuff from Western countries to demonstrate their frustration and anger at mounting hostilities.

Fighting had previously been contained to a few hotspots, but tensions have flared in recent weeks.

Russia continued to deny providing military aid to the separatists, claiming to only offer political support to pro-Russian groups during negotiations.

Ukraine's NATO allies accuse Moscow of orchestrating the uprising out of revenge for the Ukraine seeking to further align itself with the European Union.

According to the United Nations, more than 6,800 people have died and 1.4 million have fled since the conflict broke out in April 2014.

kb/kms (dpa, Reuters, AFP)