The Ukrainian ministry of defence reports militants backed by Putin’s state have used banned weapons including tanks and artillery to fire at Ukraine’s army.
Four Ukrainian troops have been injured as ceasefire violations in the 2015 Minsk agreement top 20,000 in the last week alone, according to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Meanwhile the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine says the intensity of hostilities in the region has “dramatically increased”.
OSCE’s monitors – civilian observers who report on the situation in Ukraine – say there has been movement by Russian militants in the east of the country.
The news has sparked fears of renewed aggression as Vladimir Putin may be preparing to occupy larger parts of the country.
There were 3,000 ceasefire violations between December 11 and 12 alone, and another 1,000 overnight on December 12-13, OSCE claims.
OSCE’s deputy head monitor in Ukraine, Alexander Hug, revealed the crisis had escalated to its worst point in months.
He said: “Last week, we recorded almost 20,000 ceasefire violations, up 25 percent compared with the week before. It was, in fact, the highest number recorded since March.”
It comes as Russia has escalated its military activities, including planning for a huge increase in ballistic missile testing.
The number of tests carried out will double to 12 next year as Russia steps up military preparations, top Kremlin commander Sergei Karakayev said.
Mr Karakayev said: “Five missile launches were carried out in 2017, with another one pending, and 12 launches have been planned for 2018.”
Russia’s troops will also be given 20 Yars missile launchers in 2018, with military chiefs planning to have transitioned to the ballistic missile launchers by 2026.
The upgraded system will allow ballistic missiles carrying multiple independent nuclear warheads to be fired from moving launchers and silos.
Russia is also preparing to expand its naval capabilities in the Mediterranean as Vladimir Putin looks to assert his influence in the Middle East and North Africa.
The plans for the base at Tartus on the coast of Syria would allow the facility to accommodate bigger warships.
Currently the base is classed as a “repair and replenishment” facility and can only deal with four vessels at any one time.
But dredging work and new piers would make space for up to 11 warships, as well as Russia’s largest battlecruiser, the nuclear-powered Pyotr Velikiy.
All of Putin’s other military bases are inside the former Soviet Union – so the expansion to Syria could mark a turning point for Russian military power.
The power grab could elevate the already strong status of Vladimir Putin as he prepares to run for re-election in 2018.