Kiev accuses Russian-backed separatists of killing soldiers

(Vatican Radio) Ukraine has accused Russian-backed separatists of killing four of its soldiers and injuring 15 in the past 24 hours, overshadowing planned peace talks. 

Listen to the report by Stefan Bos: 

The sudden escalation of fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine came just hours before a new round of talks on ending the conflict. 

Reports said the heaviest shelling was near the rebel-held city of Donetsk.

Rebels have imposed a night curfew in Horlivka - a city just north of Donetsk - because of they call heavy Ukrainian army shelling.

SHAKY CEASEFIRE 

There are daily exchanges of fire in eastern Ukraine, violating a ceasefire.

Ukraine's military called the situation over the weekend as very tense, with the insurgents violating the ceasefire almost 100 times.

Kiev, Western governments and the NATO military alliance say there is clear evidence of Russian regular troops helping separatists and arming them with heavy weapons. 

In a recent interview given before the latest fighting, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said he doesn't trust Russian leader Vladimir Putin as Russia is directly involved in the conflict. “Can I be absolutely clear with you?” Poroshenko asked a reporter. “This is not a fight against a Russian-backed separatists. This is a real war with Russia,” he added. 

MOSCOW DENIES 

But Moscow has denied those allegations. 

Ceasefire talks are continuing in the Belarusian capital Minsk, overseen by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

A peace plan was agreed in February, but the government and rebels have not completed a pull-back of heavy weapons and a ceasefire has often been violated. 

At least some 6,500 people are believed to have died in the conflict which also displaced more than 
1.5 million people. 

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin urged Russia this week to come to what he called "real negotiations" about a cease-fire and stabilization in Ukraine's war-torn east which will require fair elections that are internationally monitored.