A Russian journalist was shot dead overnight in eastern Ukraine, prompting Moscow to protest the incident and accuse Kiev of hampering the already fragile ceasefire.

A Russian journalist was shot dead overnight in eastern Ukraine, prompting Moscow to protest the incident and accuse Kiev of hampering the already fragile ceasefire.

Anatoly Klyan, 68, worked for state-owned Channel One and was the third Russian journalist killed since pro-federalization activists began an uprising against central rule in April.

"Once on site, shots rang out from the soldiers' side. Anatoly Klyan was mortally wounded in the stomach," said the channel.

Russian national television stressed the journalist  had been killed despite the truce which is set to expire later Monday.

There was no immediate comment from the Ukrainian military forces or the government in Kiev.

On its part, Moscow protested against the killing and renewed calls for an end to a military operation launched by government forces in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

"The death of a Russian journalist again convincingly demonstrates that Ukrainian forces clearly do not want a de-escalation of the conflict in the east of the country," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"They are hampering the already fragile ceasefire," it said.

Moscow-based investigators, who have earlier launched a probe against Ukrainian armed forces, said they had opened a new probe over Klyan's killing.

The driver of the vehicle transporting the journalists was wounded and in hospital on Monday morning, said a reporter from news channel Rossiya 24.