Moscow - KUNA
Commander of pro-separatist popular defense forces in east Ukraine, Edward Basurin, said Monday 45 Ukrainian forces were killed in the past 24 hours.
The Ukrainian forces lost 2,056 troops, three aircraft, 168 tanks, 133 armored vehicles, 124 artillery and 94 buses over the past month, Basurin said in a statement to Russian TV.
No independent source confirmed the Ukrainian forces' losses.
The Russian TV meanwhile said Ukrainian forces shelled a chemical factory in Donetsk triggering a huge fire. It was not yet known whether the environment was polluted or not.
Ukrainian news agency said a Russian Sokhoy 25 fighter jet bombarded several Ukrainian military positions in the eastern town of Debaltseve.
Russia has repeatedly denied deployment of military forces in east Ukraine.