More than 30 soldiers were killed on Friday in Ukraine as fighting in rebel-controlled eastern regions continued unabated despite a ceasefire deal with the government brokered by leaders of Germany, France and Russia.

The fighting was most intensive around the strategic railway hub of Debaltseve, where some 8,000 Ukrainian government troops have been besieged by pro-Russian rebels for over a month.

In a last minute bid to win the town the separatists launched fresh attacks on the garrison on Friday in the hope of forcing it to surrender before the fragile ceasefire agreement reached in Minsk takes effect as of Sunday.

According to unconfirmed media reports, Ukraine's deputy defence minister Petro Mekhed has said the rebels were ordered to capture both Debaltseve and the Azov Sea port of Mariupol by Sunday.

Pro-Russian rebels signed the peace agreement but key issues remain to be resolved - and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned that implementation would be difficult.

The ceasefire is to begin at 00:01 local time on Sunday (2201 GMT Saturday).

The Group of Seven industrialised nations warned all  sides in the conflict to refrain from actions in the coming days that would hinder the start of the ceasefire. They said in a statement late on Friday they were ready to take "appropriate measures" against those who violate the agreement.

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