Ukrainian forces struck at pro-Russian separatist bases in eastern regions with air and artillery strikes on Tuesday after President Petro Poroshenko announced he would not renew a ceasefire but go on the offensive to rid Ukraine of "parasites," according to The Associated Press.
The Interior Ministry headquarters in eastern Ukraine's largest city fell to pro-Russian separatists Tuesday after a five-hour gunbattle that erupted hours after the Ukrainian president ended a cease-fire, the AP reported.
The cease-fire had given European leaders 10 days to search for a peaceful settlement, and its end raised the prospect that fighting could flare with new intensity in a conflict that has already killed more than 400 people since April, according to the AP.
In Tuesday's clashes, rebels fought for more ground, and badly trained and disorganized government troops seemed incapable of crushing the mutiny, the AP reported.
Poroshenko's decision quickly drew fire from Russian President Vladimir Putin who said Poroshenko had disregarded the advice of himself and German and French leaders, according to the AP. Putin said Poroshenko would now have to bear full responsibility for veering off the road to peace.
The United States said the separatists had not abided by the ceasefire and Poroshenko had "a right to defend his country," the AP reported.
Within hours of Poroshenko's early morning announcement, his military went into action against rebel bases and checkpoints, bombarding them from the air and with artillery, according to the AP.
"The terrorists' plan to significantly escalate armed confrontation has been disrupted and the threat of losses to the civilian population and service personnel has been liquidated," the defense ministry said, the AP reported.
Poroshenko accuses Russia of fanning the conflict and allowing fighters and equipment to cross the border to support the rebels and has turned his back on another renewal of a 10-day unilateral ceasefire after the phone talks involving Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, according to the AP.
