8 killed, 18 wounded in renewed violence in eastern Ukraine

At least eight people were killed and 18 others wounded over the past 24 hours in renewed violence in eastern Ukraine, reports showed Wednesday.

Government military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said eight Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 16 others injured in the past day, which marked the highest daily casualties of the Ukrainian army since early June.

Among the victims, there were five soldiers aged between 23 and 45, who died during a mine clearing operation in the frontline village of Bolotennoe in Lugansk region, he added.

He said that despite the current cease-fire, Ukrainian army positions in the past day were shelled by 152mm-caliber artillery, grenade launchers and mortars.

"The situation continues to deteriorate. The enemy has dramatically increased the density of fire in different parts of the front line," Lysenko said.

Meanwhile, Eduard Basurin, a senior commander of independence-seeking insurgents, accused government troops of moving heavy artillery to the front line and resuming intensive shelling against rebel positions and residential areas under rebel control.

According to the insurgent-run Novorossia news agency, a man and a woman in their early 60's were wounded with shrapnel during an overnight shelling in the rebel stronghold of Gorlovka.

Violence in eastern Ukraine has been raging since April 2014, claiming more than 6,500 lives so far.

In recent weeks, the fighting has significantly eased despite sporadic clashes. Endi