Kiev: 18 Killed İn Ukraine Clashes

At least 18 people, including 13 Ukrainian soldiers, have been killed and 16 wounded in two separate attacks in Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council information center - part of the Ukrainian presidency.



The 13 soldiers were killed in army operations against pro- Russian separatists in the southeastern of the country on Monday, Andrey Lysenko, the speaker of the National Security and Defense Council confirmed.



The spokesman said that pro-Russian separatists on Tuesday opened fire at Ukrainian army positions in the Donetsk region.



Separately, five civilians were killed and 16 people injured during clashes between the army and separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city Luhansk, according to Luhansk city hall officials.



At least 500 people have been killed since pro-Russian separatists in the eastern part of Ukraine declared their intention to break away from Kiev in March. 



www.aa.com.tr/en - Kiev