Ukraine skirmishes

Fighting between Ukrainian armed forces and separatists continued in eastern Ukraine in October, despite a cease-fire agreed upon on Sept. 5. The heaviest fighting occurred in and around the rebel-held city of Donetsk. At least 13 Ukrainian soldiers were wounded. Rebel casualties were not reported.

Shelling in Donetsk on Oct. 18-19 killed four civilians and injured nine others, with neither side claiming responsibility. An explosion in the city on Oct. 20 destroyed a munitions factory, with no reported casualties; a Ukrainian military spokesperson denied the army’s involvement. 

Amnesty International has accused both sides of committing abuses during the conflict, which began on April 2014 and has resulted in the deaths of more than 3,500 people.

On Oct. 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered more than 17,000 Russian troops to pull back from Russia’s border with Ukraine