Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (CLICK TO ENLARGE):
Putin Meets With His Security Council On Worsening Ukraine Violence
The Kremlin press service says Russian President Vladimir Putin has held an “operative meeting” on August 12 with the members of the Russian Security Council about escalating violence in eastern Ukraine.
The Kremlin said the focus of the meeting was on attacks on pro-Russian separatists as well as residents of eastern Ukraine, implying that the attacks were being carried out by Ukrainian government forces.
The Kremlin statement came a day after the European Union accused pro-Russian separatists of increasing their attacks on government-held areas of eastern Ukraine, saying the separatists were violating a cease-fire deal reached in Minsk in February.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry on August 11 also complained that the situation on the front line has deteriorated in recent days and urged Kyiv to end what Moscow said were ”irresponsible actions.”
Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, afp, Interfax, and TASS
The British defense secretary, Michael Fallon, has promised Kyiv continuing support against "Russian-inspired terrorism" in eastern Ukraine. Fallon was speaking as he visited British instructors conducting training exercises with Ukrainian troops in the Zhytomyr region, west of Kyiv, on August 11. (RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service)
