Ukraine Announces More Deaths In Conflict In East, Zelenskiy Vows 'Tough' Response

[TomSea]

Ukraine Announces More Deaths In Conflict In East, Zelenskiy Vows 'Tough' Response

Ukraine says fresh clashes with Russia-backed separatists in the country's east have claimed the lives of two of its soldiers, raising to six the number of Ukrainian troops reported killed this week and prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to urge Moscow to "rein in" the separatists.

The Defense Ministry said on June 7 that two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 10 were wounded after separatists opened fire with machine guns, anti-tank missiles, mortars, sniper rifles, and grenade launchers, violating a cease-fire 23 times in a 24-hour period.

In a statement, Zelenskiy said Russia had loosened its control over the separatists, whom he called "mercenaries."

"The blatant violation of the Minsk [cease-fire] agreements -- the use of artillery -- demonstrates at least the partial loss of control over the mercenaries. We hope that the Russian side will regain control over these units."

Read more at: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-announces-more-deaths-in-conflict-in-east-zelenskiy-vows-tough-response/29986605.html