Kiev, Aug 26 (IANS): The Ukrainian government Tuesday said its troops have killed 247 independence-seeking insurgents in clashes in the eastern Ukraine.
The troops also captured some hardware that belonged to the insurgents, including 16 military vehicles, Xinhua quoted the Ukranian military press service as saying.
The insurgents, however, denied the Ukranian government's figures and said only 10 people were killed or injured.
According to Andrei Lysenko, spokesperson for Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, 12 government soldiers died and 19 injured in the clashes since Monday.
The overnight fighting also claimed the lives of three civilians, who were caught in the cross-fire in Donetsk city, the municipal council said in a statement.