Estonian city Narva rejects help plea from Donetsk "separatists"

Estonia's third largest city, the predominantly Russian-speaking Narva, has rejected a call for aid sent by the "separatist forces" in Donetsk, its sistership city, according to the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) on Thursday.

The appealing letter was sent to 13 twin and 10 partner towns of Donetsk, including Narva, the ERR reported.

Narva officials made a response to the plea that the situation is delicate but since Narva signed the partnership agreement with the Donetsk city, Ukraine, there is no mandate to open communications with the new powers.

Vjatseslav Konovalov, a Narva official, said it is a different matter if Narva can do something for the local people who suffer in Donetsk.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine, which started in April 2014, made an increasingly violent shift earlier this month, when rebels launched an offensive against government troops after scheduled peace talks in Astana were cancelled.

According to earlier reports on Thursday, intense fighting was still taking place in the main rebel-controlled Donetsk city.

At least 19 people have been killed and dozens of others wounded in fighting in eastern Ukraine over the past day. Endit