U.S. slaps sanctions on Ukrainian rebels, Russian bank

Roman Lyagin, head of the electoral commission of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, speaks during a news conference in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, October 28, 2014. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday placed sanctions on eight Ukrainian separatists and a Russian bank, warning that recent attacks by rebels armed by Russia violated a European-brokered ceasefire in the war-torn country.

The sanctions signal Washington is ratcheting up pressure on Moscow a day after accusing Russia of sending tanks and heavy military equipment into Ukraine, which a top U.S. official also said breached the Minsk accord agreed on Feb. 12.