At least six killed, 15 wounded in eastern Ukraine fighting

At least six people were killed and 15 others wounded over the past day when fierce fighting erupted between government troops and independence-seeking insurgents in eastern Ukraine, authorities said Friday.

Among the victims, two were civilians killed in the crossfire in Donetsk -- an industrial city on the Kalmius River. Seven other residents were wounded in artillery shelling in four districts of the city, according to a city council statement.

Ukranian military spokesman Andrei Lysenko told reporters that four Ukrainian soldiers were killed in clashes and eight others were injured over the last 24 hours.

The situation in the conflict-hit regions in eastern Ukraine has turned complicated in recent days, Lysenko said, adding that the rebels were deploying heavy weapons and drones near the frontline, trying to capture government-controlled territories.

The insurgents accused government troops of launching fresh offensives against them, saying that government troops used bombardment artillery and rocket launchers to retake the seized cities.

The rebels have not made comments on their own casualties in the past day.

More than 4,700 people have died since the Ukrainian government sent troops into eastern regions in mid-April to retake cities and towns captured by insurgents. Endi