The government of Ukraine has "declared war" with pro-Russian rebels, reported the Telegraph. At the same time, Moscow cautioned that it had received numerous pleas for assistance from within its neighbor. Pro-Russian insurgents and the forces of Ukraine's new post-revolutionary government clashed in several places, resulting in the deadliest violence since the February Revolution, as warfare continues in the town of Kramatorsk in the eastern region of Donetsk.

Forty-two people already died in the port city of Odessa last Friday, the majority of whom perished inside a burning building. Nine more people died during a governmental anti-terrorist operation in the east. Kiev shows no sign of relenting in its efforts to regain control over the towns overrun by rebels, despite the looming threat of Russian military encampments near the border which seem suspiciously ready to mobilize should Moscow conclude that open war is called for, ostensibly in order to protect Russian-speakers in Ukraine.

Not all the tension has been violent, however. Last Saturday, seven European military observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation were freed by the pro-Russian rebels in the east after being held captive for eight days. The observers are army officers, four of whom are German and the other three of whom are Polish, Danish and a Czech Republic citizen. The five Ukrainians who escorted the military officers were also freed.

Reuters reported that, in connection with the conflict in Ukraine, new sanctions were imposed last Monday by the U.S. on Russian President Vladimir Putin's allies. The sanction prompted Moscow to condemn "Cold War" tactics in the middle of more aggression in eastern Ukraine. These were in addition to last month's sanction when Russia seized Crimea.

The banning of visas and freezing the assets of Putin's friends like Igor Sechin, Rosneft oil giant CEO, was characterized as a mere "slap on the wrist," by U.S. President Barack Obama's critics.

More than 15 Russians and Ukrainians were added to the EU blacklist.