KIEV, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian government said on Wednesday that a Ukrainian army serviceman was killed and five others were injured in six attacks carried out by independence-seeking rebels. This is the first report of a casualty by the government since the start of the new ceasefire.
The insurgents did not report any casualties, but said that the Ukrainian army has launched an assault against rebel-held positions during the last 24 hours.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine has started since April 2014, killing more than 10,000 people, including civilians and combatants on both sides.
On Dec. 20, the Trilateral Contact Group reached an agreement for a cease-fire starting from Dec. 23 for civilians to be able to celebrate the winter holidays.
More than 30 previous rounds of truce attempts have failed, with the two sides accusing each other of cease-fire violations.
