Here's a new item from our news desk:
Three civilians and one Ukrainian soldier have been reported killed over the past day in fighting in the country’s east.
The Interior Ministry said the civilians were killed when pro-Russian rebels fired on the town of Avdiivka, held by pro-government troops. The town is located north of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.
The military said the soldier died in the neighboring region of Luhansk.
"The situation has significantly deteriorated in the conflict zone over the past 24 hours," the army said.
Meanwhile, the separatists accused government troops of firing on towns they control.
More than 6,500 people have been killed since fighting between Ukrainian government forces and separatists erupted in April 2014.
(AFP, Interfax)
Here is a map of the latest military situation in the Donbas region, courtesy of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry (click image to enlarge):
Meanwhile, here's a peripheral but pertinent development in Russia (from RFE/RL's news desk):
President Vladimir Putin has ordered the creation of a new reserve force as part of steps to improve Russia's military readiness and training.
Putin's decree, published late on July 17, ordered the government to find financing for the force from the existing Defense Ministry budget.
The move comes as Russia's relations with the West fell to their lowest point since the end of the Cold War over the crisis in Ukraine.
The new reserve force will be distinct from the existing military reserves because the personnel will train regularly and will be paid a monthly sum.
Russia already has several million military reservists consisting of former servicemen, but they do little training due to restrictions on how often they can be called up.
(Reuters, Interfax)