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From Jim Sciutto and Max Foster, CNN

updated 8:39 PM EST, Tue November 11, 2014

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- Gunfire crackles and flames scar battlefields in eastern Ukraine -- signs, officials warn, of a crumbling ceasefire in the volatile region.

And there's new fear that the long simmering battle may be about to explode to a deadly new level.

Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said he's concerned about the escalating violence and accused Moscow of violating the norms of Western civilization.

"The ceasefire is in name only at this point," he told reporters Tuesday. "The violence continues to increase day by day."

Ukraine's government and separatist leaders signed a ceasefire deal in September, raising hope that the monthslong conflict in eastern Ukraine was nearing an end.

But now, fighting between pro-Russian rebel forces and the Ukrainian military has returned to levels that preceded the ceasefire, a British security source who has detailed knowledge of the matter told CNN.

Russia has amassed some 8,000 troops along the Ukraine border, Pentagon officials and the British security source said.

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Ukraine violence flares