Ukraine conflict: Deadly Luhansk ambush ends lull in east Published duration 2 September 2015 Related Topics Ukraine conflict

image copyright AFP image caption Rebels and the Ukrainian army had agreed to revive the fragile Minsk ceasefire from Tuesday

Two people have been killed and six wounded in an ambush on a Ukrainian army vehicle near the rebel-held city of Luhansk, officials in Kiev say.

It was the first major incident since a renewed truce between the army and pro-Russian rebels came into effect on Tuesday.

A spokesman said the vehicle had hit a mine and come under sniper fire.

Both sides had reported only minor violations of the Minsk ceasefire over the past two days.

Military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said the two people killed on Tuesday were both civilians taking part in an anti-smuggling operation north-east of Luhansk, on the demarcation line between rebel-held and government areas, AFP reported.

Six soldiers were among the wounded, officials said.

The Ukrainian army reported earlier that there had been six rebel truce violations on Tuesday. The army and rebel sources said the early hours of Wednesday had also been largely quiet.

image copyright Reuters image caption National guardsmen took part in a memorial service for a colleague killed outside parliament on Monday

Although the Minsk deal was agreed in February, there was a marked increase in attacks in the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk during the summer.

As part of the agreement, MPs in Kiev took a first step on Monday towards granting greater autonomy to rebel-held areas.

Shortly after a vote was passed on the first reading of the bill, a protest organised by ultra-nationalists outside parliament erupted in violence.

Three members of Ukraine's national guard were killed and some 140 people were wounded.

Related Topics Ukraine conflict

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