Death toll mounts in intense clashes in east Ukraine

Ukrainian servicemen fight at their position near Lysychansk, in Luhansk region January 29, 2015. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Thursday that a fresh offensive by pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine would warrant more sanctions on Russia, while acknowledging that the new Greek government had not made discussions with EU peers easier. REUTERS/Maksim Levin

KIEV (Reuters) - Five Ukrainian soldiers and three civilians have been killed as a result of fighting in Ukraine's separatist eastern regions in the past 24 hours, Kiev authorities said on Thursday, reporting no let-up in violent clashes with pro-Russian rebels.

A separatist advance launched last week appears to have buried the frequently violated truce, leading to a sharp increase in casualties in a conflict that has already killed over 5,000 since it erupted last April.