Nine civilians have been killed in new fighting between government forces and pro-Russian separatists around the cities of Luhansk and Donetsk in east Ukraine, local officials say.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
Al Jazeera: Civilians die in latest Ukraine offensive
A gunman of the self-proclaimed \"Lugansk People's Republic\" stands guard at the Russian-Ukrainian border crossing of Izvarino on June 22, 2014, as residents from the area queue up to cross into Russia.
