Ukraine Soldier Killed In Clashes Near Russia Border
NDTV
Rebel leaders accuse the Ukrainian armed forces of trying to retake their two separatist regions by force.
Ukraine's army on Saturday reported the first death of a soldier in weeks and accused Moscow-backed rebels of sharply escalating attacks that have redoubled fears of an imminent Russian invasion.
The joint military command for east Ukraine said a soldier received a fatal shrapnel wound in the conflict zone running across two separatist regions near the Russian border.
Ukraine's emergency service said two of its staff were wounded during a wave of attacks on Friday.
The armed forces said rebels had used 82 and 120 millimetre-calibre mortar shells -- banned under previous ceasefire deals -- in towns across the front running through the eastern regions of Lugansk and Donetsk.
