Here's an item from our news desk on what's been happening in the east of the country:

Ukraine Announces More Deaths In Conflict In East, Zelenskiy Vows 'Tough' Response

Ukraine says fresh clashes with Russia-backed separatists in the country's east have claimed the lives of two of its soldiers, raising to six the number of Ukrainian troops reported killed this week and prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to urge Moscow to "rein in" the separatists.

The Defense Ministry said on June 7 that two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 10 were wounded after separatists opened fire with machine guns, anti-tank missiles, mortars, sniper rifles, and grenade launchers, violating a cease-fire 23 times in a 24-hour period.

In a statement, Zelenskiy said Russia had loosened its control over the separatists, whom he called "mercenaries."

"The blatant violation of the Minsk [cease-fire] agreements -- the use of artillery -- demonstrates at least the partial loss of control over the mercenaries. We hope that the Russian side will regain control over these units."

"Attacking Ukrainian armed forces is an obvious attempt to disrupt the cease-fire talks. No matter who gave the command [to attack], Ukrainian armed forces will respond in a tough manner to the situation," Zelenskiy said.

He reiterated Ukraine's position that there was a "need to preserve the cease-fire" and that its demands for the "release of the captured ones remain firm and unchangeable."

Since April 2014, some 13,000 people have been killed in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the Russia-backed separatists who control parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Cease-fire deals announced as part of the Minsk accords -- September 2014 and February 2015 pacts aimed at resolving the conflict -- have contributed to a decrease in fighting but have failed to hold.

A new cease-fire agreement was reached on March 8, but both sides have accused each other of repeated violations since then.

Hmm, is this going to be a major "export product" for the separatist entity?

Here's a news item courtesy of Current Time, a Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA:

Lawyer Reveals Details Of Yushchenko Corruption Probe

A lawyer for former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has disclosed some details of the corruption probe his client is facing in a high-profile case.

The Ukrainian Prosecutor-General’s Office on June 6 announced that Yushchenko is being investigated with suspected abuse of power and possession of state property in what investigators called the illegal privatization of a residential complex near Kyiv that served as a residence for his prime minister and successor Viktor Yanukovych.

A spokeswoman for the Prosecutor-General’s Office said that Yushchenko was suspected in the "misappropriation, embezzlement of property, or seizure of it via abuse of office" with regard to the Mezhyhirya Residence.

According to Sarhan, Yushchenko, who was president from 2005 to 2010, is suspected in assisting Yanukovych to illegally privatize the property worth 540 million hryvnyas ($19.7 million).

A lawyer for Yushchenko, Vitaliy Haum, said his client is accused of signing an order to transfer control of the residence to the Cabinet of Ministers.

Ultimately, the property was privatized through a fictitious Donetsk-based company, according to the Ukraine’s UNIAN news agency.

Speaking on June 6 to Current Time, Haum said he would be meeting with Yanukovych’s lawyers next week to discuss the matter.

Mezhyhirya, a lavish residence outside Kyiv, used to be a state property before it was privatized in 2007 by a businessman linked to Yanukovych, who succeeded Yushchenko in 2010.

In February 2014, Yanukovych fled the country following the violent anti-government protests known as Euromaidan.

The 350-acre Mezhyhirya site has since been turned into a national park and museum.