EU foreign ministers have imposed sanctions on a fresh list of individuals they accuse of destabilising Ukraine, according to diplomatic sources.

Ministers have concentrated their actions on those pro-Russian separatists who organised disputed local elections in the east of the country on 2 November, one week after Ukraine held a nationwide general election.

The elections were described at the time by the EU as illegal, but Russia recognised the outcome.

A number of individuals allegedly involved in the annexation of Crimea by Russian forces in March have also been added to the list of individuals subject to asset freezes and travel bans.

Although the issue was discussed by foreign ministers at this morning's meeting, no decision was taken to impose sanctions on companies or individuals close to the Kremlin.

More than 100 people in both Ukraine and Russia have been hit with asset freezes and visa bans since the conflict began.

EU diplomats will publish the names of those targeted later this week or next week, once the legal basis for the move has been established, according to a source.

EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels amid growing concern over a fresh military build-up in eastern Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin left a meeting of G20 leaders in Australia early over the weekend, although the Kremlin later denied reports he had left after having received a frosty reception from other world leaders.

A ceasefire between separatist rebels and the Ukrainian military has been in place since 5 September, but it has been broken many times.

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and NATO have both said there has been a heavy build-up of military hardware and personnel, which NATO said has crossed the border from Russia.

Russia continues to deny it is supporting the rebels.

Six Ukrainian soldiers and three police officers have been killed in eastern Ukraine in the past 24 hours, officials in Kiev said.

Nine other soldiers and five police officers were also wounded, the authorities said.

Although sanctions against Russian industry have been progressively introduced since the spring, there are mixed views in European capitals whether or not fresh sanctions are desirable.

At the G20 meeting in Brisbane, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said new sanctions could be on the cards, but the leader of her junior coalition partner said yesterday there were no new measures envisaged.

Today's meeting is the first chaired by the EU's new foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

She has floated the idea of Europe developing a fresh strategic approach towards Russia, rather than seeing relations with Russia through the prism of sanctions.

Some member states want existing sanctions to be kept in place, arguing that they are beginning to affect the Russian economy.

However, whether they will change Mr Putin's policy towards Ukraine remains to be seen.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has described the situation in Ukraine as "particularly grave".

He said a review of the existing sanctions regime against separatists and against Russian individuals and companies was "timely".

The minister said there "could be a requirement" for the stepping up of sanctions.

He said: "Ireland's position is that the sanctions are currently working, they are a very important means of ensuring that there is an appropriate level of political engagement. We don't believe there is a military solution to this crisis."