No deaths reported in E. Ukraine as truce largely observed

Nobody was confirmed killed by fighting in eastern Ukraine in the past 24 hours, in signs that a truce between government troops and pro-independence forces is largely being observed, reports showed Wednesday.

"The situation in the east of Ukraine has stabilized," Andriy Lysenko, spokesman for the government's military operation against rebels, told reporters at a briefing.

Although the intensity of fighting dropped sharply across the restive region, Ukrainian forces had come under tank and artillery fire 17 times in the past day, Lysenko said.

One Ukrainian soldier was wounded, but there were no fatalities in the attacks for the first time since the ceasefire came into effect on Feb. 15, the spokesman said.

There were no reports on rebel or civilian casualties in the past 24 hours.

The press service of the insurgent forces said that the truce was "generally" being observed in Lugansk and Donetsk regions over the past day.

The pause of hostilities in eastern Ukraine came within the framework of the ceasefire deal signed on Feb. 12, giving hopes for an end to the 10-month-old conflict that has killed over 5,700 people. Endite