Seven Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in clashes with pro-Russian separatists in the country’s east during the past 24 hours, the Reuters news agency reported Tuesday.
The escalating violence makes July the deadliest month for the country’s military in the past year, Reuters noted. Despite an 18-month-old cease-fire agreement, violent clashes have escalated, in this case wounding another 14.
The Ukrainian military reported that its soldiers were gunned down when separatists fired high-caliber mortars, which reportedly opened fire 78 times. Separatist officials maintain that the Ukrainian military has increased shelling on their territory.
International monitors, including the head of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, have expressed concerns about the recent surge in violence.
More than 9,400 people have been killed in clashes since April 2014. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko claims that the Ukrainian side has fulfilled its obligations under the Minsk agreement, but Russian authorities have claimed that Ukraine is violating the cease-fire through “provocations.”
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
