Tweeted by a Russia-watcher who, it's pretty safe to say, is not a fan of the Kremlin:
Here's an item on the situation in Ukraine's volatile east from our news desk:
U.S. Demands Russia Observe Cease-Fire; Says Combined Russian-Separatist Forces Attack Monitors
The United States has called on Russia to "immediately" observe a cease-fire deal in eastern Ukraine – saying that combined forces from Russia's military and pro-Russia separatists there have been targeting international monitors.
In a February 26 statement, the U.S. State Department called on "Russia and the separatist forces it backs to immediately observe the cease-fire, withdraw all heavy weapons, and allow full and unfettered access" to the region for monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Washington's call came a day after the OSCE monitoring mission said armed men in separatist-controlled territory to the north of Donetsk had seized one of the unarmed drones that the monitors use to assess cease-fire violations.
It also came a day after Ukrainian government forces says 16 Ukrainian soldiers were wounded within the previous 24 hours by renewed fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine -- despite the fresh truce that was meant to come into effect on February 20.
The truce deal announced by Russia and Ukraine was meant to stem a conflict that has raged for nearly three years and has claimed nearly 10,000 lives.
Both Kyiv and the Russia-backed separatists accuse each other of violating the cease-fire deal.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and TASS
And, speaking of Ukraine's volatile east, here is today's map of the latest situation in the Donbas conflict zone, according to the Defense Ministry in Kyiv:
More on that OSCE drone: