Ukraine clashes kill 16 amid ceasefire hopes

At least 16 people were killed over the past day in eastern Ukraine as hostilities between government troops and pro-independence rebels continued, authorities said Thursday.

The fatalities came amid hopes that a ceasefire would be established in the restive regions from Sunday, after peace talks in Minsk produced a roadmap for an end to the fighting, Xinhua reported.

The ceasefire deal was reached following peace talks between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany in Minsk and the agreement also envisaged the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line and constitutional reform to give eastern Ukraine more autonomy.

Explosions and shooting rocked the rebel-held Donetsk city overnight, killing seven people and wounding 14 others, the city council said in a statement.

On the other hand, three people died a result of shelling in the town of Avdeevka, 15 km north of Donetsk.

Battles between government troops and the rebel forces were also reported to be raging in the Lugansk region, which have left four civilians dead and seven others wounded since Wednesday, regional authorities said.

Two Ukrainian servicemen were also reportedly killed and 21 others wounded in the past 24 hours, as a result of the fighting across the two restive regions. The insurgents, however, have not commented on the casualties on their side.

The conflict in Lugansk and Donetsk regions, which has been raging since April 2014, has claimed more than 5,300 lives so far.