29-03-2024 07:43 AM Jerusalem Timing

Two Civilians Killed in Eastern Ukraine

Two Civilians Killed in Eastern Ukraine

Two civilians were killed Wednesday in war-torn eastern Ukraine, authorities said, undermining fresh ceasefire efforts.

Two civilians were killed Wednesday in war-torn eastern Ukraine, authorities said, undermining fresh ceasefire efforts.

The pair were ambushed and killed as they took part in an anti-smuggling operation, said military spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

"During a clash, a volunteer and a member of the state fiscal service were killed," Lysenko told reporters.

Ukrainian soldiersA Western-brokered ceasefire agreed in February has been punctuated by deadly incidents on an almost daily basis.

In a fresh bid to end the violence, Ukrainian government and separatist representatives had last week agreed to strive to end all violations of the ceasefire from Tuesday.

Four soldiers were wounded in the same incident in the war-torn Lugansk region, Lysenko added, saying the road was mined.

"An enemy sharpshooter was also at work," he said.

Ukraine has set up special groups involving law enforcement officers, tax officials and volunteers to fight contraband delivery across the demarcation line in eastern Ukraine.

The two victims were members of one such group.

An aide to President Petro Poroshenko, Yuriy Biryukov, wrote on his Facebook page that a member of the SBU security service and paratroopers were wounded.