Kiev steps up defence capabilities in eastern Ukraine

Kiev is boosting its defense capabilities in the restive eastern Ukraine to repeal a possible offensive by pro-independence rebels, said Oleksandr Turchynov, head of the country's National Security and Defense Council, on Wednesday.

"We are forming an active defense in the area, strengthening our armed forces with new weapons and military equipment," Turchynov told reporters during his visit to the conflict zone.

At the same time, he emphasized that the build-up of military resources does not include artillery, which is withdrawn out of range of the frontline under the Minsk ceasefire protocol.

"We strictly observe the Minsk agreements," Turchynov stressed.

The Minsk deal, which covers a cease-fire and withdrawal of heavy weapons from the combat area in eastern Ukraine, was reached in mid-February in an attempt to put an end to the bloody conflict between government troops and insurgents that has claimed more than 6,800 lives since April 2014.

The deal has significantly eased the intensity of fighting and led to lower casualties, but clashes between the conflicting sides still occur and rival forces repeatedly accuse each other of preparing a fresh military offensive.