Eight Ukrainian soldiers were killed in attacks by pro-Russian separatists in the east overnight, the Kiev defence ministry said yesterday.

The soldiers were killed and another 17 wounded when rebels opened fire on a military checkpoint near the town of Volnovaha in the Donetsk region, according to ministry spokesman Bogdan Senk.

Another soldier was killed and two injured in clashes in the neighbouring Lugansk region.

But Associated Press journalists reported at least 11 dead bodies at a military checkpoint in the village of Blahodatne.

Three charred Ukrainian armoured personnel carriers and several other burnt-out military vehicles stood at the checkpoint.

Witnesses said about 30 Ukrainian troops were wounded when the pro-Russian forces attacked the government position.

The ministry blamed the attack on “terrorists,” the term used by Kiev functionaries for pro-Russian activists.

But Russian news website Lifenews claimed far-right militants had attacked soldiers for refusing to fire on civilians.