Ukraine is on high alert for a 'full-scale invasion by Russia'

Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists fought a fierce battle on the outskirts of the separatist stronghold of Donetsk this week in the most serious bout of fighting since a haphazardly observed ceasefire came into force in February.

"The military must be ready as much for a renewal of an offensive by the enemy in the Donbass as they are for a full-scale invasion along the whole length of the border with Russia. We must be truly ready for this," Petro Poroshenko said in an address to the Ukrainian parliament yesterday. "We must be really prepared for this."