Ukraine’s military suffered its worst loss of life so far in the crisis in the eastern part of the country.  From 13 to 16 soldiers were killed and dozens more were injured in clashes with pro-Russian separatists at a military checkpoint on the outskirts of the town of Volnovakha, 32 kilometers south of Donetsk.

One more Ukrainian soldier was reportedly killed in nearby Luhansk.  Separatists later showed off weapons they claim were picked off of the dead soldiers.  One Ukrainian officer said it wasn’t local Russian-speaking separatists who attacked the checkpoint, and blamed the attack on mercenaries.

But to the east there were signs of some relief to the international tensions surrounding Ukraine.  After weeks of Moscow claiming that Russian troops were pulling back from their positions just east of the border with Ukraine, it could actually be happening.  NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says that observed activity might suggest that some Russian forces were preparing to pull back.