2 killed, dozens wounded in eastern Ukraine as hostilities flare up

At least two people were killed and 30 others wounded in eastern Ukraine over the past 24 hours amid escalation of hostilities, Ukrainian government and rebel authorities said Monday.

"As the result of growing hostilities, over the past 24 hours we have lost two soldiers and 20 others were injured," said Ukraine's military spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

Describing the situation in the conflict zone as "deteriorating", Lysenko said that pro-independence insurgents fired on Ukrainian positions 80 times in the previous day, trying to advance towards government-controlled areas.

In turn, the insurgent leadership said that the rebel forces are strictly adhering to the commitment they have made under the Minsk cease-fire agreement and accused the Ukrainian army of preparing an offensive.

The rebel-run Donetsk municipal council said that at least 10 civilians were wounded during a shelling of the insurgent stronghold of Donetsk overnight, blaming the government forces for the incident.

More than 6,400 people have been killed since fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine more than 14 months ago.

Although the Minsk ceasefire deal, reached in mid-February, has helped to significantly ease the fighting, clashes between the conflicting sides still occurred almost daily. Endi