The conflict in Ukraine has turned even deadlier as civilians are caught in the mounting cross-fire between Russian-backed rebel separatists and government forces.

At least 60 civilians have been killed since last weekend, the Wall Street Journal reported. Fifteen Ukrainian servicemen were killed in a 24 hour period earlier this weekend, officials said, marking the single highest one-day death toll since a cease-fire was signed four months ago. Rebels, who have escalated their push for Ukrainian territory, have not regularly reported their losses.

The rise in violence comes as peace talks devolved between the government and rebel forces; the two groups met Saturday but both sides accused the other of hampering negotiations.

“[Rebel] representatives who were present were not in a position to discuss the proposal put forward by the trilateral contact group,” said the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in a statement to Reuters. “In fact, they were not even prepared to discuss implementation of a ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons.”

Government representatives said the original rebel ceasefire signatories did not show up, as they had demanded, and rebels were dubious of the Ukrainian envoy’s authority. The groups were meeting in the hopes of signing a new agreement ensuring the flow of basic good and humanitarian aid, the release of detainees and removal of heavy artillery, but reached no resolution.

The Ukrainian government further accused rebels of attempting to change key parts of the ceasefire agreed upon in September.

That agreement has done little to curb fighting, but Ukrainian officials and the international community believe it offers the best chance of ending the conflict.While Kiev and the rebels continue to dither on talks, Ukrainian civilians are seeing more fighting reach their doorsteps. “It is like this every day, people are getting killed,” one Donetsk resident told Reuters. “[W]e are sleeping fully dressed so we can run into the cellar, this is becoming unbearable.”