Kiev: Three soldiers died when a mine exploded in Ukraine`s separatist-held east where isolated clashes continue to undermine a ceasefire aimed at ending a year-long war.
Army spokesman Andriy Lysenko said Saturday that "as a result of the explosion of an enemy mine ... three Ukrainian soldiers were killed, two injured" in the last 24 hours.
There were no further details on the incident, which occurred near the village of Avdiyivka, a few kilometres from the separatist bastion of Donetsk, a city in Ukraine`s industrial heartland which prior to the unrest was home to a million people.
Lysenko said that the previous day the army had noted "the use at least five times of heavy weapons by illegal armed groups against our positions," including conventional artillery and 122-mm mortars.
The fatalities were the first announced by the Kiev government in almost a week after the death of a Ukrainian army soldier was reported Monday.
Some 6,000 people have been killed since fighting broke out between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukraine government a year ago.
A February ceasefire between the two sides is largely holding but skirmishes continue around Donetsk and the strategic port of Mariupol, Kiev`s largest remaining stronghold in the rebel-held east.
Kiev and the West accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of supporting the insurgency with troops, tanks and heavy weapons -- accusations he rejects.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe which is monitoring the ceasefire agreed in the Belarussian capital Minsk said the truce remained shaky.
"The cease-fire does remain somewhat fragile" said OSCE spokesman Michael Bociurkiw at a weekly briefing.
"As long as guns continue to be fired, and as long as substantial amounts of heavy weaponry continue to be concentrated in offensive and defensive positions, achieving a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire will be difficult," he said.
He also warned of a growing humanitarian crisis in the east due to the lack of hospitals, water and schools.
