3 killed, 8 wounded in intensified violence in E. Ukraine

At least three people were killed and eight others wounded in eastern Ukraine in the past day amid escalation of violence, reports from the conflicting parties showed Tuesday.

The government military spokesman Olexandr Motuzyanyk said that three Ukrainian soldiers were killed and seven others injured in 79 attacks carried out by pro-independence rebels in the past 24 hours.

"In every third attack, the enemy used heavy weapons, which is banned under the Minsk agreement. In the past day, about 200 mortar shells were fired at Ukrainian positions," Motuzyanyk told reporters during a media briefing.

The situation is particularly tense in the frontline Zaitseve village, close to the rebel-stronghold of Gorlovka, Motuzyanyk said.

The insurgent-run DAN news agency confirmed that Zaitseve was the epicenter of the previous day's fighting, accusing government troops of shelling the village with mortars, tanks and grenade launchers.

The shelling has damaged 27 private houses in Zaitseve and injured an 11-year-old child, the agency said.

The upsurge in violence came ahead of a new round of peace talks on Ukraine's crisis slated for Wednesday in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, which is expected to discuss ways to ensure long-lasting peace in the restive regions.

Fighting has been raging in eastern part of Ukraine since April 2014, claiming the lives of more than 9,000 people.

After the warring sides declared a comprehensive ceasefire in the conflict-torn regions in September 2015, the hostilities have significantly eased, with sporadic outbreaks of violence. Endit