The leader of the east Ukraine breakaway region, the so-called Donetsk People's Republic(DPR) has called for military conscription amid tensions with Ukraine's forces at the border.&nbsp;

"I urge my fellow citizens who are in the reserves to come to military conscription offices. Today I signed a decree on general mobilisation," Denis Pushilin said in a video statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/skyfall-avangard-sarmat-russias-new-killer-superpower-weapons-revealed-448724">Also Read in Pics:&nbsp;Skyfall, Avangard, Sarmat: Russia's new killer 'superpower' weapons revealed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Most DPR residents are Russian speakers and many have already been granted Russian citizenship, however, Ukraine says the people who run the DPR are "Russian proxies", a claim denied by Russian authorities.

"Together, we will achieve for all of us the victory we desire and need. We will protect Donbas and all Russian people," Pushilin added.

Watch:&nbsp;Amid Ukraine issue, Russia to stage massive nuclear drills

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Meanwhile,&nbsp;Ukraine's army said one&nbsp;soldier was killed in the eastern region even as the Kremlin informed that President Putin will be speaking to French President Macron amid increased tensions in the region.

"As a result of a shelling attack, one Ukrainian soldier received a fatal shrapnel wound," Ukraine's military said in a statement.

Ukrainia's President Volodymyr Zelensky will be attending Saturday's Munich Security Conference although&nbsp;President Biden had earlier questioned whether it would be wise to leave Kyiv due to increased Russian activity in the region.

Russian news agency Sputnik quoting a source said a shell allegedly exploded in Rostov region about 1 km from Russia's border with Ukraine.

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Reports claim the pro-Russian rebels have evacuated residents from Donetsk and surrounding areas with several leaving for Russia. At least 700,000 people are reportedly being evacuated by the rebels from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.

There have been reports of increased shelling in the Donbas region. On Thursday, a shell had hit a kindergarten in eastern Ukrainian village with children and staff inside the premises, however, there were no casualties.

Ukraine has been battling against pro-Russia rebels in the eastern region since 2014 after Russia's annexation of Crimea. The conflict has so far reportedly claimed around 14,000 lives.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ukraine-crisis-how-putin-built-russias-army-as-a-potent-force-453715">Also Read in Pics:&nbsp;How Putin built Russia's Army as a potent force</a>

Oleksiy Danilov, Ukraine's top security officer had said earlier that the situation is being "escalated by the Russian Federation through&nbsp;its supporters on the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions."

"This is an attempt to provoke our armed forces, our military to respond and react to them," he said. Reports claim there have been at least 66 exchanges of fire as Ukraine's armed forces and Moscow-backed rebels accused each other of ceasefire violations.

(With inputs from Agencies)

The leader of the east Ukraine breakaway region, the so-called Donetsk People's Republic(DPR) has called for military conscription amid tensions with Ukraine's forces at the border.

The leader of the east Ukraine breakaway region, the so-called Donetsk People's Republic(DPR) has called for military conscription amid tensions with Ukraine's forces at the border. "I urge my fellow citizens who are in the reserves to come to military conscription offices. Today I signed a decree on general mobilisation," Denis Pushilin said in a video statement. Also Read in Pics: Skyfall, Avangard, Sarmat: Russia's new killer 'superpower' weapons revealed Most DPR residents are Russian speakers and many have already been granted Russian citizenship, however, Ukraine says the people who run the DPR are "Russian proxies", a claim denied by Russian authorities. "Together, we will achieve for all of us the victory we desire and need. We will protect Donbas and all Russian people," Pushilin added. Watch: Amid Ukraine issue, Russia to stage massive nuclear drills Meanwhile, Ukraine's army said one soldier was killed in the eastern region even as the Kremlin informed that President Putin will be speaking to French President Macron amid increased tensions in the region. "As a result of a shelling attack, one Ukrainian soldier received a fatal shrapnel wound," Ukraine's military said in a statement. Ukrainia's President Volodymyr Zelensky will be attending Saturday's Munich Security Conference although President Biden had earlier questioned whether it would be wise to leave Kyiv due to increased Russian activity in the region. Russian news agency Sputnik quoting a source said a shell allegedly exploded in Rostov region about 1 km from Russia's border with Ukraine. #BREAKING | Shell allegedly explodes in Rostov region, about 1 km from Russian border with Ukraine - source#SputnikBreaking #explosionhttps://t.co/2JJUs86AFu pic.twitter.com/TDNtTcVdkb — Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 19, 2022 × Reports claim the pro-Russian rebels have evacuated residents from Donetsk and surrounding areas with several leaving for Russia. At least 700,000 people are reportedly being evacuated by the rebels from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. There have been reports of increased shelling in the Donbas region. On Thursday, a shell had hit a kindergarten in eastern Ukrainian village with children and staff inside the premises, however, there were no casualties. Ukraine has been battling against pro-Russia rebels in the eastern region since 2014 after Russia's annexation of Crimea. The conflict has so far reportedly claimed around 14,000 lives. Also Read in Pics: How Putin built Russia's Army as a potent force Oleksiy Danilov, Ukraine's top security officer had said earlier that the situation is being "escalated by the Russian Federation through its supporters on the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions." "This is an attempt to provoke our armed forces, our military to respond and react to them," he said. Reports claim there have been at least 66 exchanges of fire as Ukraine's armed forces and Moscow-backed rebels accused each other of ceasefire violations. (With inputs from Agencies)

Pro-Russian rebel leader announces 'general mobilisation'; 1 Ukraine soldier killed in clashes

Amid tensions with Ukraine at the border, deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov said that Russia is not afraid of any state, including the United States.

Russia's TASS news agency quoted Russia's deputy foreign minister as saying that, "We are not afraid of anyone, even the US."

Ryabkov added that the US had promised a response over Russia's security guarantee document next week. In the document, Putin's regime had demanded NATO should not expand its influence to Russia's eastern frontier&nbsp;referring to Ukraine.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/russias-checkmate-why-the-orion-combat-drone-is-a-gamechanger-446455">Also Read in Pics |&nbsp;Russia's 'checkmate': Why the Orion combat drone is a gamechanger</a>

Meanwhile,&nbsp;the US said it will conduct NATO naval exercises in the Mediterranean from Monday which would include the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman amid tensions with Russia.

"Neptune strike 22 is going to run through February 4 and it's designed to demonstrate NATO's ability to integrate the high-end maritime strike capabilities of an aircraft carrier strike group to support the deterrence and defence of the alliance,” said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.&nbsp;Russia will also be conducting naval excercise in the Mediterranean

Watch:&nbsp;Will Russia go to war?

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On Friday&nbsp;US secretary of state Antony Blinken had met Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in an attempt to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis as both leaders agreed to keep talking.

Blinken sought to address "mutual concerns" about security as the US secretary of state asserted if Russia chose the path to conflict it would lead to "severe consequences and international condemnation".

Blinken said he told Russia said that if its forces invaded Ukraine then it would be met with "swift, severe and a united response from the United States and its allies".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/satellite-photos-show-russian-troops-deployed-near-ukraine-border-446072">Also Read in Pics |&nbsp;Satellite photos show Russian troops deployed near Ukraine border</a>

Russia however insisted that it awaits the US response to the security guarantee. Lavrov added that this is "not the end of our dialogue".&nbsp;

"I can't tell you if we're on the right track or the wrong track. We'll understand this when we receive the American response on paper to all the points in our proposal," Lavrov said.

Amid talks between the top diplomats, Russian troops conducted military drills in the Voronezh region on the border with Ukraine.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Amid tensions with Ukraine at the border, deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov said that Russia is not afraid of any state, including the United States. Russia's TASS news agency quoted Russia's deputy foreign minister as saying that, "We are not afraid of anyone, even the US.

Amid tensions with Ukraine at the border, deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov said that Russia is not afraid of any state, including the United States. Russia's TASS news agency quoted Russia's deputy foreign minister as saying that, "We are not afraid of anyone, even the US." Ryabkov added that the US had promised a response over Russia's security guarantee document next week. In the document, Putin's regime had demanded NATO should not expand its influence to Russia's eastern frontier referring to Ukraine. Also Read in Pics | Russia's 'checkmate': Why the Orion combat drone is a gamechanger Meanwhile, the US said it will conduct NATO naval exercises in the Mediterranean from Monday which would include the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman amid tensions with Russia. "Neptune strike 22 is going to run through February 4 and it's designed to demonstrate NATO's ability to integrate the high-end maritime strike capabilities of an aircraft carrier strike group to support the deterrence and defence of the alliance,” said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. Russia will also be conducting naval excercise in the Mediterranean Watch: Will Russia go to war? On Friday US secretary of state Antony Blinken had met Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in an attempt to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis as both leaders agreed to keep talking. Blinken sought to address "mutual concerns" about security as the US secretary of state asserted if Russia chose the path to conflict it would lead to "severe consequences and international condemnation". Blinken said he told Russia said that if its forces invaded Ukraine then it would be met with "swift, severe and a united response from the United States and its allies". Also Read in Pics | Satellite photos show Russian troops deployed near Ukraine border Russia however insisted that it awaits the US response to the security guarantee. Lavrov added that this is "not the end of our dialogue". "I can't tell you if we're on the right track or the wrong track. We'll understand this when we receive the American response on paper to all the points in our proposal," Lavrov said. Amid talks between the top diplomats, Russian troops conducted military drills in the Voronezh region on the border with Ukraine. (With inputs from Agencies)

NATO to conduct naval exercise in Mediterranean amid tensions with Russia

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Pro-Russian rebel leader announces 'general mobilisation'; 1 Ukraine soldier killed in clashes

NATO to conduct naval exercise in Mediterranean amid tensions with Russia