Ukraine: Ukraine says 2 troops killed in Russian-backed rebel offensive
At least two Ukrainian troops have been killed and three injured in the past 24 hours in renewed fighting in eastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian official said Friday.
Fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government troops has killed more than 9,600 people since the conflict began in April 2014. A 2015 cease-fire deal did not completely stop fighting but did lower its intensity.
Andriy Lysenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian defense ministry, said in a statement that Ukrainian casualties continue to mount after what Kiev says was a rebel offensive southeast of the rebel stronghold Donetsk.
A total of eight troops have been killed outside the town of Svitlodarsk since fighting began there Sunday, Lysenko said. Rebels have accused the Ukrainian government of launching an attack on their positions there.