A mobile group that works on the demarcation line between the separatist territories and Ukraine proper trying to prevent unauthorized goods from crossing over was shot at today in Luhansk oblast.
Two people died and four others were injured in the shooting.
The head of the Luhansk military-civilian administration, Heorhiy Tuka, wrote about the incident on his Facebook page:
“Now, I’m not an official. I’m a volunteer, a simple man … One of the dead is my friend! My personal friend!”
Tuka said he had a clue about who was behind the attack, but didn’t provide further details.
More from AFP on those two killed in eastern Ukraine:
Kiev, Sept 2, 2015 (AFP) -- Two civilians were killed Wednesday in war-torn eastern Ukraine, authorities said, undermining fresh ceasefire efforts.
The pair were ambushed and killed as they took part in an anti-smuggling operation, said military spokesman Andriy Lysenko.
"During a clash, a volunteer and a member of the state fiscal service were killed," Lysenko told reporters.
A Western-brokered ceasefire agreed in February has been punctuated by deadly incidents on an almost daily basis.
In a fresh bid to end the violence, Ukrainian government and separatist representatives had last week agreed to strive to end all violations of the ceasefire from Tuesday.
Four soldiers were wounded in the same incident in the war-torn Lugansk region, Lysenko added, saying the road was mined.
"An enemy sharpshooter was also at work," he said.
Ukraine has set up special groups involving law enforcement officers, tax officials and volunteers to fight contraband delivery across the demarcation line in eastern Ukraine.
The two victims were members of one such group.
An aide to President Petro Poroshenko, Yuriy Biryukov, wrote on his Facebook page that a member of the SBU security service and paratroopers were wounded.
A new national police force has been officially established in Ukraine, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said at a governmental meeting on September 2.
“The Cabinet of Ministers today decides on establishing a central executive body under the authority of the Interior Ministry, meaning today the National Police is officially established in Ukraine,” he said.
The law on the National Police was signed by President Petro Poroshenko on August 4. The new force has been working in Kyiv since July 4. Now, the new police force will also operate in Odesa and Lviv.
In early August, the Interior Ministry announced that the National Police will, within three months, replace the Ukrainian militia. During this time local units of the National Police will be established, too.
EU Agrees To Extend Sanctions On Russia
By RFE/RL
The European Union has agreed to extended sanctions for another six months against Russian firms and individuals, as well as Ukrainian separatists, to maintain pressure on Moscow to carry out the Minsk cease-fire agreement.
The decision was made at a meeting of EU ambassadors on September 2, and should be signed off by ministers in mid-September.
The asset freeze and travel bans were due to expire September 15.
The sanctions target 150 people, including senior Russian advisors, lawmakers, and Ukrainian rebel leaders.
Also on the list are 37 firms and other entities, including 13 which were confiscated by Moscow during Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014 or which benefited from that move.
The sanctions where first introduced by the EU in 2014 for people and entities responsible for actions against Ukraine's territorial integrity.