UKRAINE, East – Rebels are reported to have taken heavy casualties as they try to seize Debaltseve which holds a railway that links Donetsk to Luhansk, and which has been without electricity and water for a week. Twelve people have been killed during shelling as rebels tried to seize any remaining government held territory in east Ukraine. Kiev says Moscow is trying to create a ‘New Russia’ in it’s eastern territories. Peace talks in Minsk that were not attended by the leaders of the self proclaimed independent republics ended with no result on Saturday.

Picture: Ukrainian soldiers outside council building, Debaltseve on Saturday