A total of two Ukrainian soldiers were killed in a probe launched against Russian backed rebels in the Peski region of northern rebel held Donetsk, according to Russian language news accounts.The probe consisted of eight Ukrainian effectives, two of whom were killed exchanging gun fire with rebel forces, with two wounded. One Ukrainian soldier was captured. The group was said to be a detachment of the Ukrainian 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade.
Back in late 2014 the Peski region was one of the most contested areas in Donetsk, and up until early 2016 also was one of the areas most hit by rebel artillery.
Lugansk
In Lugansk near the Svetlodarsk region of northern Lugansk, three Ukrainian soldiers were killed and another three were wounded placing mines, according to a news account published in the pro-Russian news outlet Russkaya Vesna. The article quoted Lugansk military spokesman Lt. Colonel Andre Marochko.
The soldiers were elements of the Ukrainian 54th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade.
The news report said that the mines were being emplaced in the gray zone between Ukrainian and rebel forces.
A separate news account in Korrespondent.net said that rebel artillery struck targets in the Svetlodarsk area for about five hours early Friday morning, using 120mm and 82mm mortar fire.
A news report which appeared in lb.ua said that more shelling took place in Lugansk 24 hours later, Saturday morning, and in the same areas as before. Two Ukrainians were wounded in the shelling.