Death toll mounts in Ukraine despite truce

Nearly 30 people in Ukraine have been killed since a ceasefire was signed 11 days ago, with five soldiers in the Donetsk region the latest victims.

Almost 30 Ukrainian civilians and soldiers have been killed since a tenuous truce came into force 11 days ago, according to an AFP tally.

Five civilians lost their lives in shelling in the rebel-held Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine over the past 24 hours, local officials said on Tuesday.

At least three Ukrainian soldiers were also killed Monday in a new rebel advance towards Donetsk airport that had been one of the war's main flashpoints in recent months.

A foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that a total of 16 servicemen had died since the ceasefire took effect on September 5.

AFP correspondents had reported persistent shelling on Monday around Donetsk airport, where the Ukrainian military said it has fought off several assaults by pro-Moscow separatists.

Another six civilians were killed in heavy bombardments in a district a few kilometres from the airport on Sunday, the bloodiest day since the shaky truce took effect on September 5.

A woman was also killed just hours after the truce in shelling on the eastern outskirts of the southeastern port city of Mariupol.

There has been no information about the number of dead among the ranks of insurgent fighters.


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