Russia warns West support for Kiev could lead to 'catastrophe'

New volunteers for the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's Azov battalion line up before they depart to the frontlines in eastern Ukraine, in central Kiev January 17, 2015. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's envoy to the European security watchdog OSCE urged the United States and Europe on Thursday to stop supporting the "party of war" in Ukraine and warned "catastrophe" could result, Interfax news agency reported.

"I would like to appeal to the states that have influence on Kiev's leadership, most of all to Washington. It's time to stop indulging Ukraine's party of war," said Russia's OSCE envoy, Andrei Kelin.

A relative of new volunteer for the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's Azov battalion reacts before volunteers depart to the frontlines in eastern Ukraine, in central Kiev January 17, 2015. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

"Only a big catastrophe can result from such developments."

Russia has increasingly blamed the United States and NATO for the flare-up in violence in eastern Ukraine. The West accuses Moscow of feeding a pro-Russian insurgency with guns and soldiers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said this week the Ukrainian army itself was a legion of NATO sent to geopolitically contain Russia.

A gunfight at a Ukrainian army checkpoint and an assault in the port city of Mariupol reportedly leaves dozens dead, as Kiev faces an uptick in separatist violence in eastern Ukraine. Pavithra George reports.

"It's time to stop covering (Kiev's) inhuman actions, it is unacceptable to push (them) toward the continuation of war in eastern Ukraine," said Kelin.

Pro-Russian separatists stand next to a military truck in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, January 21, 2015. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

Russia denies accusations it is sending money, arms or weapons to eastern Ukraine, where a pro-Russian uprising began months after Ukraine's Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovich was ousted by street protests.

(Reporting by Thomas Grove; Editing by Timothy Heritage and Andrew Roche)