Kiev accuses rebels of launching new offensive

Ukrainian military spokesman Alexander Motuzyanyk on Thursday accused pro-independence rebels in eastern regions of launching a new offensive.

"Although the outskirts of Donetsk and Gorlivka remain the main flash points, the fighting area is expanding as insurgents are trying to find weaknesses in our defense to advance to our other positions," Motuzyanyk told a media briefing.

He added that one Ukrainian serviceman was killed and eight others wounded in the eastern regions over the past day.

Meanwhile, Eduard Basurin, a senior insurgent commander, said that two civilians and two rebel fighters were wounded in shelling in Donetsk region allegedly by the Ukrainian army.

The warring sides in eastern Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of breaching a deal agreed in February in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

The Minsk deal, which covers a cease-fire and withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line, has significantly eased the intensity of fighting and led to lower casualties from both sides. Endi