Donetsk Violence

Google access was blocked in eastern Ukraine by the Russia-backed separatists, accusing the search engine of spreading calls "disinformation". In a message posted on his Telegram channel, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) accused Google of promoting "violence against all Russians".

More than 6,000 people have been killed since violence erupted in Ukraine last April, the UN rights chief said Monday, decrying a "merciless devastation of civilian lives and infrastructure."

A massive assault by Russian-backed insurgents on a Ukrainian force hanging on to a ruined airport near the rebels' main stronghold prompted Germany on Tuesday to announce urgent new peace talks.

Thirteen soldiers and civilians have died in Ukraine, officials said on Monday, in the deadliest surge of violence since the government and pro-Russian insurgents struck a shaky truce in their five-month conflict.

A Ukrainian warplane was blown out of the sky over rebel-held territory Wednesday as fierce clashes between government troops and pro-Russian insurgents left dozens of civilians dead.

It was polling day in Ukraine's eastern capital, Donetsk, but the long, leafy avenues were all but empty as residents, unable to vote in the presidential election, stayed at home in fear of violence from pro-Russian militants.

Kiev and the West have dismissed it as a 'farce' that could worsen the violence wracking the ex-Soviet nation.

Several people were wounded when pro-Russian separatists attacked a rally in support of Ukrainian unity in the separatist-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine on Monday, a Reuters reporter said.

Google access was blocked in eastern Ukraine by the Russia-backed separatists, accusing the search engine of spreading calls "disinformation". In a message posted on his Telegram channel, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) accused Google of promoting "violence against all Russians".

More than 6,000 people have been killed since violence erupted in Ukraine last April, the UN rights chief said Monday, decrying a "merciless devastation of civilian lives and infrastructure."

A massive assault by Russian-backed insurgents on a Ukrainian force hanging on to a ruined airport near the rebels' main stronghold prompted Germany on Tuesday to announce urgent new peace talks.

Thirteen soldiers and civilians have died in Ukraine, officials said on Monday, in the deadliest surge of violence since the government and pro-Russian insurgents struck a shaky truce in their five-month conflict.

A Ukrainian warplane was blown out of the sky over rebel-held territory Wednesday as fierce clashes between government troops and pro-Russian insurgents left dozens of civilians dead.

It was polling day in Ukraine's eastern capital, Donetsk, but the long, leafy avenues were all but empty as residents, unable to vote in the presidential election, stayed at home in fear of violence from pro-Russian militants.

Kiev and the West have dismissed it as a 'farce' that could worsen the violence wracking the ex-Soviet nation.

Several people were wounded when pro-Russian separatists attacked a rally in support of Ukrainian unity in the separatist-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine on Monday, a Reuters reporter said.