KIEV (AFP) - Ukraine's acting president on Tuesday ordered a military operation against pro-Kremlin separatists resume, after two "brutally tortured" bodies were discovered in the restive east, one of whom was a kidnapped local councillor.

"I demand the resumption of effective counter-terrorism measures to protect Ukrainian citizens in the east from terrorism," Oleksandr Turchynov said, according to a statement from his other office as parliamentary speaker.