UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned on Thursday that the crisis in Ukraine threatened to “spin out of control” and urged all sides to “refrain from violence”.

“The secretary general is deeply concerned about continued violence in eastern Ukraine, which has led to loss of life, further instability and which is contributing to a climate of fear and anxiety,” Ban said in a statement released by his office.

“As the stakes are now so high, the secretary general is seriously concerned that the situation could quickly spin out of control with consequences we cannot predict,” he added.

“Military action must be avoided at all costs,” Ban continued, urging all sides “to immediately refrain from violence, intimidation or provocative actions and find a way forward toward de-escalation.

“Ban’s comments came as Ukraine’s military launched assaults to retake rebel-held eastern towns.

The offensive, which killed at least five people, sent international tensions soaring and oil prices up, raising the prospect of Russia making good on its threat of a massive response in the ex-Soviet republic.—AFP