Rebel leader warns fighting in eastern Ukraine could escalate

A leader of the independence-seeking insurgents in eastern Ukraine said on Friday that fighting between rebel forces and the Ukrainian government army could escalate in the near future.

"There is a number of indirect indications that a new round of hostilities may begin," Alexandr Zakharchenko told reporters during a media briefing in Donetsk.

Zakharchenko said the government army is dragging the peace process and is unwilling to continue a diplomatic dialogue with rebels when they are ready to repeal a possible attack.

However, government military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said the situation in the combat areas in Lugansk and Donetsk regions has deteriorated as the rebels launched 106 attacks against Ukrainian positions, in which heavy artillery was used.

Over the past 24 hours, two government soldiers were killed and seven others wounded in the violence in the restive regions, the spokesman added.

Starting in April 2014, the conflict in eastern Ukraine has claimed the lives of more than 6,800 and wounded almost 17,100, according to the latest United Nations estimates.

The intensity of hostilities has eased since mid-February, when a peace agreement between two sides was signed.