Militants attack ATO forces in Avdiyivka, killing and wounding Ukrainian servicemen

One Ukrainian soldier was killed and eight were wounded in militants' mortar attack on Ukrainian sappers in Avdiyivka at 15:30 Kyiv time, said President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in Lviv today.

The shelling is said to have been carried out with the use of 82-mm mortars, which should have been withdrawn according to the Minsk agreements, the head of state said.

The Ukrainian President does not believe that the escalation of the situation in the east of Ukraine is related to the expansion of the terror-related activity, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

"I do not see any connection between the escalation in the east and the intensification of Islamic terrorists. But we do see an escalation within the country, we see increased risks and threats of terrorist attacks in Ukraine, therefore the appropriate measures are taken and security is enhanced," Poroshenko said.