At least five people were killed and 15 injured on Monday when separatist fighters tried to storm the headquarters of the Ukrainian border guards in the eastern city of Luhansk, the agency said.
Some 500 fighters continue to attack the building with mortars, machine guns and automatic rifles, the border guard service said. The agency accused the fighters of hiding in surrounding apartment blocks and on roofs and using civilians as “human shields.”
The border guards service said that 7 officers were injured in the fighting and claimed that 5 attackers were killed and 8 injured. A separatist spokesman confirmed only one injured fighter, Interfax reported.
Fighting erupts in Sloviansk
Fresh fighting was also reported from Sloviansk, the separatist stronghold in the neighbouring Donetsk region.
Separatists said five civilians were injured in an attack by government forces involving a helicopter and artillery, Interfax reported.