5 soldiers killed as rebel infighting flares up
The conflict has claimed more than 10,000 lives since 2014
KIEV: UKRAINE SAID on FRIDAY ive of Its soldiers HAD DIED During IGHTING in the east, as it accused Russia of ramping up its military presence in the region amid squabbles among warring rebel factions.
THE spike In IGHTING CAME As leaders from the European Union and six former Soviet countries were meeting in Brussels for a summit aimed at deepening ties, with Moscow’s role in THE UKRAINE Conlict Conspicuously OFF the agenda.
But Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko DISCUSSED THE simmering Conlict with German Chancellor Angela Merkel During HIS visit to Brussels, HIS OFICE said. The two leaders touched upon the “dangerous development of the situation in Donbass (in eastern Ukraine) which was provoked By CEASEIRE violations By Russian militants,” Poroshenko’s OFICE said in a statement.
Secretary of Ukraine’s Security and Defence Council Oleksandr Turchynov claimed that Moscow had reinforced its presence In Eastern UKRAINE As INIGHTING has increased between warring rebel factions loyal to the Kremlin.
It was the highest daily death toll since August 25 when a new truce entered into force in the latest effort to put an END to A Conlict that HAS CLAIMED more than 10,000 lives since 2014.
“Five of our soldiers have died over the past 24 hours,” Turchynov said in televised remarks. “It is a very serious problem For us.” “A Conlict situation Is under way between various criminal groups which make up the occupational administration in the occupied territories,” he added.
Separately, the Ukrainian military’s anti-terror centre said that four of the soldiers died in the Lugansk region, one of two regions controlled by Moscowbacked rebels, and that four more were wounded.
It said eight rebels had been killed and another nine wounded.
The Kiev anti-terror centre said the army remained in control but the situation was “tense” AND A CEASEIRE was being violated.
Tensions broke out earlier this week in the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic, which has for years been blighted by leadership squabbles.
The region’s separatist leader, Igor Plotnitsky, has sacked his interior minister and accused him of masterminding a coup attempt.
The minister, Igor Kornet, refused to step down and armed men loyal to him blockaded part of the Lugansk city centre for two days earlier this week before dissipating on Thursday.