Here's the biggest news so far this morning. From the Kyiv Post.
Eleven separatist leaders of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics have made it on a new list of sanctions compiled by the European Union, bringing the total number of individuals subject to sanctions related to Ukraine’s territorial integrity to 72.
From our news desk:
Ukraine's president has vowed to respond resolutely after 19 troops were killed by pro-Russian fighters in the east of the country.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry said 93 soldiers were wounded in the early rocket attack on July 11 near the Russian border.
The attack was a setback for government forces, who had seemingly gained the upper hand last week when they pushed the pro-Russian fighters out of their stronghold city of Slovyansk.
Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko said: "For every life of our soldiers, the militants will pay with tens and hundreds of their own."
Poroshenko warned that "not one terrorist will evade responsibility. Everybody will get what is coming to them."
Ukrainian government troops have been fighting for more than three months against separatists in eastern Ukraine, and in the last two weeks, they have cut the territory held by the rebels in half.
That concludes today's live blogging.
News just in from Brussels:
The European Union, Russia, and Ukraine on July 11 agreed to set up a consultation mechanism to address Russian concerns about Ukraine's Association Agreement signed with the EU last month.
Under the consultation mechanism, Russian will circulate a list of precise concerns or potential risks it feels might affect its economy as a result of the EU’s June 20 deal with Ukraine.
Experts from the three sides will try during the summer to find solutions to problems presented by Moscow that are related to technical regulations, standards, and customs.
The experts are to present a final report no later than September 1.
The EU trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, and Russia’s Minister for Economic Development Alexei Ulyukayev are due to meet in Brussels on September 12 to discuss remaining concerns.
This is what Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko said earlier today at a news conference in Kyiv.
"All those who used a 'Grad' multiple-rocket launcher against the Ukrainian armed forces will be found and destroyed. For every life of our servicemen, rebels will pay with tens and hundreds of lives. None of the terrorists will avoid responsibility. Each of them will get what he deserves. [Ukrainian President] Petro Poroshenko stressed that."
Video from our Ukraine Service. Activists staged a rally in central Kyiv on July 11 demanding the immediate release of Nadiya Savchenko, a Ukrainian pilot held in Russia. (Read our profile of her here.) Savchenko was seized by pro-Russian separatists in June near Luhansk, eastern Ukraine.
She was turned over to authorities in Russia, where she faces charges of complicity in the June 17 killing of two Russian journalists who died in the fighting near Luhansk. The protesters in Kyiv held up banners that read, "Ukraine Needs Nadiya," which also translates as "Ukraine Needs Hope."
