Three pro-Russian militants killed in Ukraine attacks

At least three pro-Russian separatist militants were killed and six others were wounded in the last 24 hours in eastern Ukraine, the result of a series of attacks by Kiev government troops, said the militia commander of the self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk, Efe news agency reported.

Attacks on militia positions in the town of Shyrokyne left three fighters dead and six others injured, the militia said as reported by DAN, the news agency of the Donetsk separatists.

According to the rebels, Ukrainian troops also attacked several locations near the city of Donetsk, the main stronghold of the separatists in eastern Ukraine.

"Overall in the last 24 hours, there have been 33 attacks, 20 of them were recorded last night," they added, denouncing violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian regime.

In turn, the Ukrainian military command accused the separatist militias of violating the truce 49 times during the same period, eight of which incorporated the use of heavy artillery, which were supposed to be removed from the line of separation between forces according to the Minsk agreements.

Kiev and the pro-Russian militants exchange accusations on a nearly daily basis of violations of the ceasefire.

More than 6,000 people, including militants and civilians, have been killed in eastern Ukraine amidst the conflict that began 11 months ago, according to figures in the latest UN report.