Ukraine: Four soldiers, one civilian reported killed in the east May 3

Event

The Ukrainian army announced the deaths of three of its soldiers in Debaltseve on May 3. Two of them were reportedly killed in close combat while the other was killed by a grenade while attempting to throw it at separatist soldiers as he was about to be captured and taken as a prisoner. A fourth soldier was killed during fighting in Avdiivka.

Separatists have claimed a civilian was killed by Ukrainian forces in a separatist-controlled zone 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Donetsk.

Context

Debaltseve is located between Donetsk and Luhansk. The city, a railway junction, has experienced periods of heavy fighting since the outbreak of the conflict in 2014.

Fighting continues to take place between Ukrainian and separatist forces in eastern Ukraine despite the ceasefire agreement that came into effect on April 1. In accordance with the Minsk protocol (September 2014) and Minsk II (February 2015) a ceasefire has officially been in place for several years in eastern Ukraine (Donbass region) between Russian-backed separatists, who advocate closer ties with Russia, and the Ukrainian government. However, despite these agreements, fighting is regularly reported in the region. On April 23, an International Observer with the European Security (OSCE) was killed and two others were wounded by a landmine near Pryshyb (30 km [18.6 mi] northwest of Luhansk).

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict since 2014. Ukraine has reported the deaths of 19 soldiers since April 1, while Russian separatists announced the deaths of ten soldiers in April.

Advice

Due to ongoing fighting between government forces and pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country, many Western governments advise against travel to Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (Donbass region), as well as areas along the Russian border.