Ukrainian Coast Guard Officer Killed In Mine Blast

A small boat belonging to the Ukrainian Coast Guard has hit a mine off the coast of the eastern port city of Mariupol, causing an explosion that has killed one coastguard officer and wounded five others.

Ukraine's State Border Guard Service said the vessel's captain remains unaccounted for after the explosion on June 7.

It said the six wounded coastguard officers had been hospitalized, and that one later died of undisclosed injuries.

No further details were immediately available.

Mariupol is a flashpoint city in the conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels.

Lying on the coast of the Sea of Azov, Mariupol sits along a key route linking parts of eastern Ukraine controlled by the rebels and Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in March, 2014.

Mariupol was hit by rebel mortar shells in September, 2014.

Based on reporting by Interfax and AFP