U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf speaking at a June 3 press briefing in Washington, D.C.:
"We're disturbed by reports, including those by the OSCE, that combined Russian separatist forces launched coordinated attacks overnight against Ukrainian positions near Donetsk city and Pisky, Luhansk, and Maryinka. We’re now seeing unconfirmed reports that the town of Maryinka may have fallen. These attacks are on the Ukrainian side of the cease-fire line. They have reportedly utilized grad-rockets and other heavy weapons that should have been withdrawn under the February Minsk plan."
"Any new attack and aggressive action by combined Russian separatist forces is unacceptable and contravenes the Minsk agreement. Russia bears direct responsibility for preventing these attacks and implementing a cease-fire. Any attempts to cease additional Ukrainian territory will be met with increased costs."
This ends our live blogging for June 3. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.
Kyiv says 5 soldiers killed in fighting:
Ukraine says five of its soldiers were killed and 39 wounded on June 3 in fighting between government forces and Russian-backed separatists in the country's east.
Yuriy Biryukov said on Facebook on June 4 that most casualties were reported near the town of Maryinka, west of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.
Kyiv says the separatists, using tanks and artillery, tried to take government positions there, in violation of a tenuous internationally brokered peace deal.
Ukraine's military says the offensive forced it to use artillery that had been removed under the Minsk II agreement as part of an effort to create a demilitarized zone.
The deal has served as the basis for a shaky cease-fire since February.
The rebels blamed government troops for the fighting and said 15 civilians and separatist fighters died in shelling by government forces. (Reuters, Interfax)