Kyiv Says Ukrainian Soldier Killed In Conflict In East

A new cease-fire agreement was reached on March 8, but both sides have accused each other of repeated violations since then. (file photo)

Ukraine says one of its soldiers has been killed and two wounded as a result of clashes with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The Defense Ministry said on March 22 that separatist fighters fired machine guns, mortars, and grenade launchers, violating a cease-fire seven times during the previous 24 hours.

Meanwhile, separatists in the Donetsk region also accused Ukrainian government forces of violating the cease-fire seven times in the same period.

Since April 2014, some 13,000 people have been killed in fighting between Kyiv's forces and the Russia-backed separatists who control parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Cease-fire deals announced as part of the Minsk accords -- September 2014 and February 2015 pacts aimed at resolving the conflict -- have contributed to a decrease in fighting but have failed to hold.

A new cease-fire agreement was reached on March 8, but both sides have accused each other of repeated violations since then.

With reporting by TASS