Two civilians have been reported dead in Sartana near the strategic port city of Mariupol as a result of the latest shelling by militants. Several more people, including a 10-year-old girl, were taken to hospital with wounds, according to Ukraine Today.

Fighting also flared elsewhere along the frontline: at least one man was killed here near the separatist stronghold of Donetsk.

Ukrainian officials said earlier this week that in the just in 24 hours, two Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and seven wounded by the Russian-terrorist forces.

Meanwhile, the Western governments regard a Minsk ceasefire agreement signed on February as the best chance of ending the hostilities in Donbas.

See unian.info’s video section for more of the latest news from Ukraine in video from Ukraine Today, Ukraine’s 24-hour English-language news channel.