KIEV, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian army has incurred its worst daily losses since the start of the new ceasefire with pro-independence insurgents in eastern Ukraine, official figures showed Wednesday.
According to the Ukrainian Defence Ministry, two government soldiers were killed and four others injured in the past 24 hours in clashes with rebels amid escalated violence.
The number of attacks carried out by insurgents against the government army had increased twofold in the past three days, said the statement on the ministry's website.
The ministry has suggested that the rebels have stepped up their offensive ahead of the meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's crisis, which is taking place in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
In turn, the insurgent-run DAN news agency blamed the government forces for the escalation of the tensions, saying two civilians were injured in the attacks on the rebel-controlled areas. The insurgents have not commented on their casualties.
The conflict between government troops and insurgents in eastern Ukraine has been raging since April 2014, claiming about 10,000 lives.
On Aug. 25, the confronting sides declared the ceasefire to ensure children's security ahead of the new school year. The truce has brought relative calm to the restive region.
In September, five Ukrainian army soldiers were killed in combat with rebels, while three others fall victims to the explosions, which marked the lowest monthly casualties of the Ukrainian forces since the start of the conflict.
