Although Ukraine is holding parliamentary polls a week before, it has offered the pro-Russian rebels a vote on self-rule in December.

 

A shaky ceasefire has held since 5 September and the two sides have since agreed to set up a buffer¹ zone.

 

UN officials say 3,245 people have been killed since fighting began in April.

 

That number does not include the 298 victims of the Malaysia Airlines plane downed over eastern Ukraine on 17 July.

 

Separatists in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk declared independence from Ukrainian rule after Russia annexed² Crimea in March. 

 

The rebels seized several cities and fighting raged for five months, with Russia denying accusations³ that it had sent soldiers and weapons to push back the Ukrainian army.

 

Despite frequent flare-ups in the violence, the fragile ceasefire agreed early this month appears to have held. 

 

Explosions were, however, reported north of Donetsk late on Tuesday.

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