4 dead as fighting flares in east Ukraine

Three civilians and one Ukrainian soldier have been killed over the past day in renewed fighting in the east of the country, where pro-Russian rebels are waging an insurgency, Kiev said on Saturday.

The civilians were killed when the rebels fired on the town of Avdiivka, held by pro-government troops, the interior ministry said, while the army said a soldier died in the neighbouring region of Lugansk.

"The situation has significantly deteriorated in the conflict zone over the past 24 hours," the army said in a statement.

The insurgents for their part accused government troops of firing on towns they control in the region.

More than 6,500 people have been killed since pro-Russian rebels launched their insurgency in April 2014 and a February truce agreement has failed to stop the fighting.

Kiev and the West accuse Russia of fuelling, aiding and participating in the insurgency, charges that Moscow denies.