Intense fighting follows Ukraine pact

Fierce fighting surged in eastern Ukraine yesterday as Russian-backed separatists mounted a major, sustained offensive to capture a strategic railway hub ahead of a weekend ceasefire deadline. At least 25 people were killed across the region, officials reported.

Clashes appeared only to have increased since a peace agreement was sealed on Thursday in the Belarusian capital of Minsk by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel cautiously described the ceasefire as “a glimmer of hope”.