Ukraine’s parliament has approved a mass military call-up for the country’s conflict in the east amid security warnings that Russian forces backing separatist rebels have sharply increased their activity.

Partial conscription will resume and authorities want 100,000 reservists mobilised to strengthen the frontline as violence escalates after a period of relative calm.

Parliament backed a decree by President Poroshenko to replace long-serving troops at the front and bring in veterans from the reserve.

Ukraine got rid of compulsory military call-up in 2013 before the removal of pro-Moscow president, Viktor Yanukovych, which sparked the confrontation with Russia.

“We are seeing the resumption by the enemy of full-scale attacks and advance by the rebels and Russian troops, resulting in a full-scale continental war,” Oleksandr Turchynov, the head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, told parliament, adding that 8,500 Russian regular forces were now deployed in eastern