Ukraine troops 'recapture' town; UN concerned

(Vatican Radio)  The United Nations has urged the warring parties in Ukraine to respect an increasingly shaky ceasefire after at least 28 people reportedly died since Wednesday in the worst flareup of fighting in months. Its appeal came as Ukraine's president Petro Poroshenko claimed government troops had recaptured a key town and spoke with his American counterpart Barack Obama. 

Listen to Stefan Bos' report:

Poroshenko said government troops ousted Russian-backed separatists from the eastern town of Maryinka. They also captured what he called 12 "saboteurs", including one Russian.

His claim has not yet been independently confirmed. 

But the remarks followed heavy fighting on Wednesday in Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, west of rebel-held Donetsk.

Injured in Donetesk

In Donetsk several victims of fighting have been rushed to hospital, including a woman who suffered severe leg wounds of shrapnel. 

She fears the region will soon have no food and medicines.

Nearby another woman cried as she recalled how her house was bombed.

"A 'present' of Poroshenko flew into my house, " the elderly woman said.

"I pray everyday that a tiny piece of him will remember that he is also a father with children who shouldn't sit in bomb shelters."

War of Words

Both sides have accused each other of starting the latest clashes.

The violence killed at least dozens since Wednesday, including one or more children, while the rebel leadership claims hundreds died.

Alexander Zakharchenko, leader of the self-styled "Donetsk People's Republic", said the Maryinka clashes alone left about 400 Ukrainian troops dead and up to 1,000 wounded.

Amid the escalating tensions, the European Union plans more sanctions against Russia this month for its role in the conflict, diplomats said, though Moscow denies backing the rebels with weapons and troops. 

Poroshenko spoke with U.S. President Barack Obama by phone and both men expressed "deep concern" about the activities of "combined Russian-seperatist forces", the White House said.