The Economist takes an interesting look at the crucial city of Kharkiv:
With Kyiv reporting intensified fighting in eastern Ukraine, here is a map from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry of the situation in the Donbas conflict zone today. It does seem to indicate that things are hotting up there. (CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)
Here's an update on the situation in eastern Ukraine from our news desk:
Five Ukrainian Soldiers Die In Past 24 Hours
Five Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and another four wounded in fresh clashes with Russia-backed separatists in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
It is the second biggest casualty toll in a single day this year, the military said on May 29.
"Unfortunately, over the past 24 hours, five Ukrainian soldiers have died and four more have been wounded," military spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk told reporters.
On May 28, the Ukrainian military said that fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatists had intensified.
Russia-backed fighters have accused the army of carrying out dozens of attacks in recent days as both sides charge each other with not observing a ceasefire.
Amid the stepped up violence, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called for greater foreign assistance and has appointed former NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen as his adviser.
Based on reporting by AFP, dpa, TASS, and Interfax
Interesting Twitter exchange vis-a-vis the OSCE: