Ukrainian troops have cleared more than a dozen towns of pro-Russia separatists but Russia is still moving forces close to Ukraine and rebels have attacked border posts from both sides of the border, a top security official said on Friday.
The statements from national security council secretary Andriy Parubiy came as no new peace talks were in sight four days after a cease-fire expired.
Russia and European leaders have been calling for talks with the rebels to begin by Saturday, but no meeting has yet been announced.
Parubiy said Government forces were attacking rebel positions with artillery and planes and that 17 villages had been recaptured since a unilateral cease fire expired on Monday.
He said Ukrainian forces now control 23 of the 36 local regions within Donetsk and luhansk provinces, the two regions along the Russian border where the insurgency is centered.
“Fighting aiming at defending the border and liquidating terrorists in the luhansk and Donetsk regions continues,” Parubiy told journalists at a news conference. “This is taking place during the constant movement of military equipment and armed forces of the Russian Federation close to the Ukraine’s border.”