Fighting in eastern Ukraine kills 43 residents and govt troops in 24 hours, authorities say

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian troops are fighting to gain control of the rebel-held city of Donetsk and a major railroad and a highway that leads to Russia.

The Kiev-backed administration in Donetsk says 34 “local residents” have been killed in the fighting, while the Ukrainian National Security Council says nine troops were killed in overnight fighting in a town (Ilovaysk) near Donetsk.

Ukrainian forces are trying to encircle Donetsk, the largest city still in rebel hands, and also drive the rebels out of the city of Luhansk. Several neighborhoods in Donetsk have been hit with artillery fire in the last few days and fighting on the outskirts has become more intense.

Local authorities in Luhansk say government troops and rebels have been fighting running battles in city streets. The besieged city has been without electricity, running water or phone connections for 18 days and residents are reported to be standing in lines to buy bread baked on portable generators as food grows scarce.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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