New York 1 Feb (ANA) - The UN Security Council has warned of a "dangerous deterioration" in eastern Ukraine and called on warring sides to halt the violence. The council said renewed fighting was having a "severe impact" on civilians. Fighting in the frontline town of Avdiivka has left thousands of residents without water or power in freezing conditions. Ukraine says it is preparing a possible evacuation of the town to avoid a humanitarian crisis. Each side blames the other for the upsurge in violence. "The members of the Security Council called for an immediate return to a ceasefire regime," the Ukrainian-drafted statement said. Ukrainian servicemen cook near a tent set to warm local residents of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region after the town's heating was damaged by shells on 31 January 2017. The text did not raise objections from Russia, a permanent member of the council, which has in the past routinely blocked statements put forward by Ukraine. More than 9,700 people have died in the conflict which erupted in 2014 when Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula. Pro-Russian rebels later launched an insurgency in the east. The US and EU imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its actions in eastern Ukraine. Russia has denied backing the rebels. Ukrainian forces say the latest outbreak began when rebels launched an attack on the government-held town of Avdiivka, which borders land controlled by the separatists. The rebels say government forces attacked them first. Seven soldiers and a number of rebels have been killed in recent days, and there have been civilian casualties although precise numbers are unclear. (ANA)

FA/ANA/1 February 2017--------