Ukraine's acting president has relaunched military operations against pro-Russian militants in the east after two men, one a local politician, were found 'tortured to death'.
Oleksandr Turchynov said the politician, named as Vladimir Rybak, was found near rebel-held Sloviansk.
'The terrorists who effectively took the whole Donetsk region hostage have now gone too far,' he said.
The move came as US Vice-President Joe Biden was visiting Ukraine.
After meeting Ukrainian leaders in Kiev, Mr Biden called on Russia to 'stop talking and start acting' to defuse the Ukraine crisis.
The US and the West accuse Russia of using undercover military to back separatists in eastern Ukraine, where public buildings are occupied in at least nine cities and towns. Russian denies this.
Announcing the decision to resume the military operation - suspended over the Easter period - Mr Turchynov said in a statement: 'I call on the security bodies to resume and carry out successful anti-terrorist measures aimed at defending Ukrainian citizens living in the east of Ukraine against terrorists.'
Mr Rybak, whose body was found on Tuesday, was described as a local councillor for the Fatherland party in the nearby town of Horlivka. The other man killed has not yet been publicly identified.
'These crimes are being committed with the full support and connivance of the Russian Federation,' Mr Turchynov said.
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