At least 12 civilians and 5 Ukrainian troops have been killed in the past 24 hours in war-ravaged eastern Ukraine, AP reported.
Full-blown fighting between separatists and government forces erupted anew at the start of January following a month of relative tranquility.
Defense Ministry spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov said 5 Ukrainian troops have died in the past 24 hours as the Ukrainian army resists the separatist onslaught on Debaltseve, a railway hub that has been the epicenter of recent fighting.