Two civilians in a government-controlled area of eastern Ukraine have been killed, authorities said, amid a surge of shelling as combat flared between the armed forces and separatist rebels.
An elderly couple died when their car was struck by mortar fire 12 miles into government-held territory, according to Luhansk regional governor Hennadiy Moskal.
Military spokesmen report fighting daily along several points of the 280-mile front line.
As Ukraine’s conflict shows little sign of abating, talks on implementing a shaky February ceasefire agreement have foundered.
Negotiators from the warring sides met in Belarus yesterday but the session concluded without obvious progress.
The war has killed more than 6,400 people since April last year.