Tensions rise in eastern areas, 2 Ukraine soldiers DEAD.

Ukraine soldiers killed as tensions rise in eastern areas. Ukraine says at least two soldiers were killed and another wounded in recent days in clashes between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists. The military claims the latest reported clashes rose the death toll to at least 36 Ukrainian soldiers killed in the east this year. Ukraine’s government and the West have expressed alarm about a flareup in violence between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. They have been fighting Ukraine since 2014, but in recent days several Ukrainian soldiers were killed, and the military says scores of troops died this year alone. Russia claims it has no military presence in eastern Ukraine and vehemently denies wrongdoing. But critics say it fueled new tensions this year by massing troops and large-scale military exercises near its border with Ukraine.