Ukraine vows to use all weapons against rebels

Ukraine vowed yesterday to use all weapons at its disposal to withstand an alleged new pro-Russian rebel advance that added urgency to a goodwill visit by Britain's defence secretary.

Kiev accused the eastern separatist fighters of launching another missile assault north of Mariupol -- a government-held port that provides a land bridge between rebel territories and the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula.

"We will use our entire arsenal and all the means at our disposal to beat back the enemy's assault," Ukrainian military spokesman Vladyslav Seleznyov told AFP.

“We cannot risk the lives of our soldiers," said the top Kiev army representative.