Fighting rages in E Ukraine

KIEV - More casualties and violence were reported in eastern Ukraine over the past day as fierce fighting between government troops and independence-seeking insurgents continues, according to the officials on Wednesday.

Andrei Lysenko, spokesman of the National Security and Defense Council, said 12 government soldiers were wounded in confrontation with rebels in the past 24 hours, but there had been no deaths.

Meanwhile, Gennady Moskal, head of Lugansk Regional Administration, claimed that government forces suffered "heavy losses" during the overnight fighting with rebels in Lugansk region.

"Ukrainian armored vehicles have been destroyed, and soldiers killed, wounded and captured. The situation is critical," Moskal wrote on his Facebook page, saying it was impossible to specify the exact number of casualties because government reinforcement forces have not been able to reach the combat area.

Following the fighting, more than 100 Ukrainian soldiers were bogged down near Bakhmutka village being encircled by the rebels, Moskal added.

On Tuesday afternoon, seven civilians were killed and 17 wounded when shells exploded on the outskirts of the port city of Mariupol in Donetsk region.

There were no confirmed insurgent casualties over the past day.