Shelling in Ukraine's Donetsk kills 2 civilians

At least two civilians were killed and 11 others wounded during battles in the past day in Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk, local authorities said Tuesday.

According to the Donetsk municipal council, intense fighting between government troops and independence-seeking insurgents, involving the use of artillery and rockets, destroyed several private houses and damaged a hospital.

Meanwhile, fresh battles in several surrounding towns of Donetsk left at least three civilians wounded in the past day.

Besides, two people were wounded by shrapnel in Stanytsya Luganska town in a heavy shelling that has destroyed about 60 houses, said Gennady Moskal, head of Lugansk Regional Administration.

Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said that 19 government soldiers were wounded in confrontation with insurgents over the past 24 hours; no one was killed.

There were no confirmed insurgent casualties.

During the weekend, Donetsk city, the main insurgent stronghold, saw heaviest fighting in the past four months as insurgent forces launched an offensive to capture the government-controlled airport.

After the fighting that has reportedly killed several dozens of combatants and wounded over 100 others, both sides claimed control of the airport.

The deadly conflict in eastern Ukraine has caused at least 4,800 deaths since its outbreak in mid-April. Endi