Kiev:
Three civilians and one Ukrainian soldier have been killed over the past day in renewed fighting in the east of the country, where pro-Russian rebels are waging an insurgency, Kiev said today.
The civilians were killed when the rebels fired on the town of Avdiivka, held by pro-government troops, the interior ministry said, while the army said a soldier died in the neighbouring region of Lugansk.
<div id='ndtvrelcontent'></div"The situation has significantly deteriorated in the conflict zone over the past 24 hours," the army said in a statement.
The insurgents for their part accused government troops of firing on towns they control in the region.
More than 6,500 people have been killed since pro-Russian rebels launched their insurgency in April 2014 and a February truce agreement has failed to stop the fighting.
Kiev and the West accuse Russia of fuelling, aiding and participating in the insurgency, charges that Moscow denies.