Kiev warns hostilities may resume in eastern Ukraine

Full-scale hostilities may again erupt in eastern Ukraine as "constant ceasefire violations" are undermining the truce, National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) secretary Oleksandr Turchynov official said here Wednesday.

"Our country is facing today serious and dangerous challenges," the newly appointed secretary of NSDC told reporters during a briefing.

Accusing independence-seeking insurgents of breaching the truce enforced last week, Turchynov said the conflict may "at any moment turn into a new brutal confrontation."

Amid growing instability, Ukrainian armed forces are mobilising their resources and preparing to repel a potential threat, Turchynov said.

He has not ruled out that martial law could be declared in Ukraine "should such need arise".

On Tuesday, Turchynov was appointed as the secretary of the NSDC, which supervises the defence ministry and the armed forces, amid a nine-month conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has claimed lives of more than 4,700 people.

The regime of truce, enforced by government troops and insurgents Dec 9, resulted in a period of fragile calm in the area, with no civilian or combatant deaths were officially confirmed.

However, sporadic violations of the truce still occur. Over the past day, small arms fire exchanges between the two confronting sides have wounded one Ukrainian soldier and three civilians.