EU: Attacks violate Minsk deal 

BRUSSELS – The European Union said on August 11 that increasing attacks in government-held areas in eastern Ukraine violate February’s ceasefire deal agreed upon in Minsk. “The renewed escalation of the conflict… as a result of attacks on several government-controlled areas today and in the night of August 10 on Starohnativka violates the spirit and the letter of the Minsk agreements,” the EU’s External Action Service said in a statement. Also on August 11, the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry said the situation on the front line had deteriorated in recent days and urged Kyiv to end its “irresponsible actions” in eastern Ukraine. On August 10, the Ukrainian military reported the heaviest shelling by pro-Russian separatists since the Minsk truce was signed in February. The fragile Minsk ceasefire is marred by daily violations. More than 6,400 people have been killed in the military conflict between Ukrainian armed forces and pro-Russia rebels in parts of Ukraine’s eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk since April 2014. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Reuters)