Ukraine crisis: Five soldiers killed in clashes in east

Ukraine accuses Russia of sending its troops and arming separatists in the east

Five soldiers have been killed and seven wounded in eastern Ukraine during an assault by separatist forces, Ukraine's defence ministry says.

Four died during a five-hour clash near Krymske, a village 50km (31 miles) north-west of Luhansk. Another was killed by artillery fire.

Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels have blamed each other for violating the current ceasefire.

The deaths come amid a spike in violence following clashes last week.

Ukrainian negotiators have said that a new ceasefire is due to come into effect on 29 August, in time for the new school year.

Moscow denies sending its troops and providing weapons to the separatists, but admits that Russian "volunteers" are helping the rebels.

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• Ukraine country profile

The latest battle took place when pro-Russian separatists "attempted to overtake observation posts" on a local highway, a defence ministry spokesman said.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Ukrainian forces had been attacked with high-calibre artillery.

"The Russians... are trying to attack the positions of our troops, violating the ceasefire," he said.

On Saturday two Ukrainian soldiers and two rebels were killed in a clash.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict in eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions - which are known collectively as Donbas - since 2014.

The insurgency broke out after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.

On Thursday Mr Poroshenko apologised for saying back in 2014 that the conflict would be resolved in "hours".

"I am truly sorry that I gave hope which did not come true," he said.

The US says it has given more than $1bn (£775m) in defence support to Ukraine since 2014.