KIEV, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Fierce fighting between government troops and independence-seeking insurgents in eastern Ukraine resulted in heavy casualties over the past day, officials said Friday.
Andrei Lysenko, spokesman for the National Security and Defense Council, said one government soldier was killed and six others were wounded in confrontation with rebels in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Tatiana Pogukay, spokesperson for the Interior Ministry's department in Lugansk region, said shelling in Trekhizbenka village Friday morning killed a five-year-old girl and severely wounded her mother.
Casualties were also reported among the rebels.
The press service of the government's military operation in the east said Ukrainian forces killed 20 insurgents, who were trying to ambush government troops on the outskirts of Gorlovka town in Donetsk region late Thursday.
The rebels, without giving details, confirmed that they suffered losses during the fighting near the town.
More than 4,000 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since an armed conflict erupted in mid-April, after insurgents declared independence in Donetsk and Lugansk regions.
