Ukraine, separatists report rise in eastern fighting

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's military and pro-Russian separatists accused each other on Wednesday of escalating violence in eastern Ukraine in defiance of a ceasefire deal, as Ukraine reported one of its soldiers killed in a direct attack.

The guns have been mostly silent since early September, prompting both sides to extend a pullback of lighter weapons, but an increase in ceasefire violations over the past two weeks has underscored the fragility of the peace process.