Two government soldiers killed, 10 wounded in eastern Ukraine

At least two government soldiers have been killed and ten others wounded in eastern Ukraine in the last 24 hours, a government military spokesman Olexandr Motuzyanyk said here Thursday.

The toll, which was one of the highest since a ceasefire was established three months ago, came as a Ukrainian military vehicle struck the landmine planted on a road in Donetsk region, killing two soldiers on the spot and wounding seven others, Motuzyanyk told reporters.

He didn't specify the circumstances, in which three more servicemen were also wounded.

Meanwhile, the press service of the government military operation in eastern regions reported deterioration of the combat situation in Lugansk and Donetsk.

It said in a statement that despite the current truce, Ukrainian army positions in the past day were shelled by 122-mm-caliber artillery, grenade launchers and mortars.

Insurgents have not commented on the casualties, but the defense ministry of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic said that the Ukrainian army has violated a ceasefire regime nine times in the previous 24 hours.

Violence in eastern Ukraine has been raging since April 2014, claiming more than 9,098 lives so far.

In recent months, the fighting has significantly eased despite sporadic clashes after Sept. 1, when the warring sides declared a comprehensive ceasefire in the conflict-torn regions in eastern Ukraine. Endit