Russia plans to station state-of-the art missiles in its westernmost Baltic enclave and deploy nuclear-capable bombers to Crimea as part of massive war games to showcase its resurgent military power amid bitter tensions with the West over Ukraine

A suspected gas blast at a coal mine in a rebel-held region of east Ukraine has killed at least 30 people and left some 40 missing, officials said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says the US hopes the Ukraine ceasefire deal will be implemented within "hours".

The Ukrainian army suffers no casualties in 24 hours for the first time in weeks, raising hopes that a fragile ceasefire is starting to hold.

Pro-Russian separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko announces plans to recruit 100,000 men, as fighting with Ukrainian forces intensifies.