East Ukraine death toll mounts after peace talks fail

Thirteen Ukrainian soldiers and at least seven civilians have been killed in fighting in the past 24 hours, Kiev authorities said on Sunday, reporting widespread clashes with Russian-backed separatists a day after peace talks collapsed, Reuters reported.
'Fighting continues across all sections of the frontline,' Kiev military spokesman Volodymyr Polyovy said in a briefing.
The civilian and military death toll has mounted in the past two weeks after rebels launched a new offensive. Hopes of de-escalation evaporated on Saturday with Ukraine's representative and separatist envoys accusing the other of sabotaging negotiations.
Clashes are intense around the town of Debaltseve, he said, referring to a Kiev-held transport hub connecting the two main rebel strongholds that separatists aim to cut off.
'There is no question of encirclement or cutting off of the main communication lines...the situation is under control,' he said.
The Interior Ministry said on Sunday a further seven civilians had been killed in shelling on Sunday of the town, which has been cut off from power and water supplies for days.