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2 February 2015 Last updated at 14:26 ET Share this page
Ukraine rebel leader Zakharchenko 'wants 100,000 men'
Rebels forces have been gaining ground
Continue reading the main story Ukraine crisis
Pro-Russian separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko says rebels aim to boost their forces to 100,000, as fighting with Ukraine's military intensifies.
The rebels want to push government forces out of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and are trying to capture the key town of Debaltseve.
Dozens of people including civilians were killed in clashes and artillery fire at the weekend.
Attempts to agree a truce failed when rebel negotiators did not turn up.
Denis Pushilin, a rebel representative, said rebels would only return to negotiations if the government declared a unilateral ceasefire.
A fragile ceasefire agreed in early September in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, collapsed last month when rebels stepped up their offensive in several areas and seized Donetsk airport.
Both sides have blamed each other for dozens of recent civilian deaths resulting from the fighting.
Armoured vehicles were seen heading for Debaltseve on Sunday to bolster Ukrainian forces
The conflict in Ukraine has killed more than 5,000 people. Here, a funeral in Kiev on Monday
Mr Zakharchenko, the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said mobilisation was "urgent" and that the call-up would take place in the next 10 days.
"This is to increase our army to 100,000 people," he said. "It does not mean we will take in 100,000, but the joint army of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics' army should be 100,000."
However, the rebels' ability to raise large numbers of forces is unclear.
Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev
Ukraine rebel leader Zakharchenko 'wants 100,000 men'
Rebels forces have been gaining ground Continue reading the main story Ukraine crisis
Pro-Russian separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko says rebels aim to boost their forces to 100,000, as fighting with Ukraine's military intensifies.
The rebels want to push government forces out of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and are trying to capture the key town of Debaltseve.
Dozens of people including civilians were killed in clashes and artillery fire at the weekend.
Attempts to agree a truce failed when rebel negotiators did not turn up.
Denis Pushilin, a rebel representative, said rebels would only return to negotiations if the government declared a unilateral ceasefire.
A fragile ceasefire agreed in early September in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, collapsed last month when rebels stepped up their offensive in several areas and seized Donetsk airport.
Both sides have blamed each other for dozens of recent civilian deaths resulting from the fighting.
Armoured vehicles were seen heading for Debaltseve on Sunday to bolster Ukrainian forces The conflict in Ukraine has killed more than 5,000 people. Here, a funeral in Kiev on Monday Mr Zakharchenko, the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said mobilisation was "urgent" and that the call-up would take place in the next 10 days.
"This is to increase our army to 100,000 people," he said. "It does not mean we will take in 100,000, but the joint army of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics' army should be 100,000."
However, the rebels' ability to raise large numbers of forces is unclear.
Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev