Fresh violence in E. Ukraine leaves 3 dead

At least three people have been killed in a latest wave of violence in eastern Ukraine, authorities said Tuesday.

One Ukrainian serviceman was killed and eight wounded in attacks by anti-government militants who used mortars, small arms and tanks, Andriy Lysenko, a Ukrainian military spokesman told reporters.

The rebel offensive continued over the past day along the entire frontline except some areas in Lugansk region, Lysenko said, noting that the intensity of shelling has slightly dropped overnight.

Meanwhile, the rebels blamed government troops for shelling on populated areas of insurgent-controlled cities and leaving casualties.

A 10-year-old girl was killed as a result of shelling in Donetsk, while a 14-year-old boy died during an attack on Gorlovka, said the self-styled defense ministry of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk Republic".

The recent upsurge in violence follows three days in which no deaths were reported in the conflict that broke out in Ukraine's east in April last year and killed over 6,000 people. Endi