THE leader of anti-fascist Ukrainian rebels in their eastern hub of Donetsk vowed yesterday to mobilise new fighters for their latest offensive.

“There will be general mobilisation in the Donetsk People’s Republic in 10 days’ time,” said Alexander Zakharchenko.

“We plan on mobilising up to 100,000 men.”

The anti-Kiev fighters vowed to push their offensive to consolidate the Donetsk and Lugansk regions after truce talks in Minsk collapsed on Saturday.

Fighting has since intensified, with Kiev officials saying that five Ukrainian soldiers and three civilians had been killed in the last 24 hours after being targeted by artillery or mortars 104 times.

Two civilians were killed in a rocket strike in the village of Krimske, 25 miles north-west of Lugansk, said pro-Kiev regional governor Gennadiy Moskal.

Fighting in east Ukraine claimed around 50 lives over the weekend.