Two Ukrainian soldiers killed despite ceasefire: Army

The Ukrainian military has announced the death of two of its soldiers in new fighting between government troops and pro-Russia forces in the country’s restive east.

According to Press TV quoting a statement released by Ukraine’s army, clashes in the eastern regions of Lugansk and Donetsk on Saturday left two soldiers dead and two others injured.

The casualties came only a few hours after a new ceasefire between the pro-Russia forces and government troops had taken effect.

The ceasefire was agreed upon at a June 21 meeting of the two warring sides and representatives from Moscow and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The truce was intended to allow local farmers to harvest their crops and was scheduled to last until August 31.

The Ukrainian military accused the pro-Russians of firing several rounds at government forces in the eastern regions, while the representatives of the pro-Russia, self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic claimed that government forces had violated the ceasefire 10 times.

“All the information on these violations (of the ceasefire)... have been sent to the OSCE,” said Edouard Bassourine, a representative of the pro-Russians, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.

Conflict erupted in eastern Ukraine after people in the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea voted for unification with Russia in March 2014. The West brands the development as Moscow’s annexation of the territory. The US and its allies in Europe also accuse Russia of having a major hand in the crisis in eastern Ukraine, an allegation denied by Moscow.

The crisis has left over 10,000 people dead and more than a million others displaced, according to the United Nations.

ME