Fighting rages in east Ukraine despite bid to revive truce

Ukrainian servicemen ride on a military vehicle near Artemivsk February 19, 2015. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

ARTEMIVSK/VUHLEHIRSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - Fighting raged in eastern Ukraine on Thursday despite European efforts to resurrect a stillborn ceasefire, a day after pro-Russian separatists spurned the truce by forcing thousands of government troops out of a strategic town.

Western nations are refusing to give up on a peace deal brokered by France and Germany last week even though the rebels disavowed it to seize the important railway hub of Debaltseve.