Donetsk, Ukraine shelling.
Photo by Twitter At least seven civilians and two Ukrainian troops have been killed in eastern Ukraine as a new uptick in violence has exacerbated the already volatile military conflict between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian army.
DONETSK, Ukraine, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- At least seven civilians and two Ukrainian troops were killed in eastern Ukraine in the late hours of Sunday night as a new uptick in violence has exacerbated the already volatile military conflict between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian army.
Residents are describing the battle on the border as the "heaviest fighting" in more than three months, reported Radio Free Europe. The fighting broke out between government forces on the eastern side of Mariupol and artillery positions to the east of the city in territory under the control of pro-Russian separatists.
Houses were destroyed in the village of Sartana about 20 kilometers east of Mariupol, and an oil depot was also damaged. Regional police in Mariupol said two civilians were killed by the separatist shells that landed in Sartana.
Separatists said at least three people were killed by the shelling of Horlivka, a town near Donetsk.
The latest violence comes after a week of intensifying clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists near the government-held coastal city on the Sea of Azov, Radio Free Europe also reported.
"A child with a ripped off foot was taken by an ambulance to a town hospital No.3. Two other residents, one missing an arm, another one missing a leg, were admitted to a town hospital No.4. Several civilians managed to walk to hospitals on their own and requested medical assistance," reads a government statement, as reported by Ukraine Today.
Local residents were hiding out in basements. The European Union condemned the escalation of military offensives, which resulted in deaths of civilians.
"It is of utmost importance that the two sides fully observe the ceasefire and take all appropriate measures to protect civilians in full respect of international humanitarian law," said Catherine Ray, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.
