That concludes our live-blogging of the Ukraine crisis for today. Check back here tomorrow morning for more of our continuing coverage.
EU Says Attacks In Eastern Ukraine Violate Minsk Deal
The European Union says that increasing attacks in government-held areas in eastern Ukraine violate February's cease-fire deal that was agreed in Minsk.
"The renewed escalation of the conflict...as a result of attacks on several government-controlled areas today and in the night of 10 August on Starohnativka violates the spirit and the letter of the Minsk Agreements," the EU's External Action Service said in a statement on August 11.
Also on August 11, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the situation on the front line had deteriorated in recent days and urged Kyiv to end its "irresponsible actions" in eastern Ukraine.
On August 10, the Ukrainian military reported the heaviest shelling by pro-Russian separatists since the Minsk truce was signed in February.
The fragile Minsk cease-fire is marred by daily violations.
More than 6,400 people have been killed in the military conflict between Ukrainian armed forces and pro-Russia separatists in parts of Ukraine's eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk since April 2014.
Based on reporting by Reuters
Increased NATO, Russian Military Drills Raising Tensions
By RFE/RL
The increase in the scale and number of military exercises by NATO and Russia is making armed conflict in Europe more likely, a think tank has warned.
Ian Kearns, director of the London-based European Leadership Network, said that war games "are contributing to a climate of mistrust" that have "on occasion become the focal point for some quite close encounters between the NATO and Russian militaries."
Kearns is one of the co-authors of a study which looks in detail at two military exercises held this year by Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He found signs that "Russia is preparing for a conflict with NATO, and NATO is preparing for a possible confrontation with Russia."
The exercises "can feed uncertainty" and heighten the risk of "dangerous military encounters," the study said.
Relations between Russia and the West have been in the deep freeze since Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine last year. The war in Ukraine has prompted NATO to create command units across Eastern Europe, while Russia has recalibrated its military goals toward the transatlantic alliance, which it accuses of approaching its borders.
The study said NATO is planning around 270 exercises this year, while Russia has announced 4,000 drills at all levels.
The Russian exercise in March involved 80,000 personnel, while NATO's Allied Shield in June mobilized 15,000 people from 19 NATO countries and three partner states.
The study said NATO and Russia should communicate better on plans to hold military drills to lessen the risk of incidents. It recommended limiting exercises in border areas.
The study said the exercises showed what each side views as its most vulnerable points. For NATO, it's Poland and the Baltic states, while for Russia concerns are more numerous and include the Arctic, Crimea, and border areas with NATO members Estonia and Latvia.
The think tank offered a few ideas to try to defuse tensions, including for governments to examine the need for more restraint in the size and scenarios of future exercises.
"History is full of examples of leaders who think they can keep control of events, and events have a habit of taking on a momentum and dynamic of their own," said Kearns.