At least 16 civilians have been killed and dozens more injured in a span of 24 hours as fighting intensified in eastern Ukraine, a report said.
The United Nations has warned that the fresh escalation in tension is proving to be "catastrophic," reported the BBC.
Government and rebel representatives said that the latest deaths were reported in locations across the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The Ukrainian army said that five soldiers were killed in the fighting near the strategic town of Debaltseve.
Civilian casualties have risen sharply in recent weeks amid fierce clashes in the region.
