Ukraine tightens control on border with Russia

Ukraine has closed several crossing checkpoints on the border with Russia in its eastern Lugansk region, the Ukrainian border force said Thursday.

In a statement, Ukrain's State Border Service said the country has tightened measures on its border due to the "unstable security situation" in the region, Xinhua reported.

Authorities have also evacuated guard staff from the closed crossing checkpoints over "threats to their life" triggered by the frequent attacks by rebel forces, it added.

Ukrainian authorities have officially informed the Russian Federation about the closure of several border crossing checkpoints, it said, without specifying the number of border posts that were affected.

The move came after fierce battles on the Ukraine's eastern frontier between border guards and separatist insurgents, which left at least eight people dead.

Violent clashes between Ukrainian government troops and armed activists are underway in Lugansk and its neighbouring Donetsk regions since early April, after insurgents established "people's republics" in their regions, seeking independence from Kiev.