KIEV, Ukraine

Three soldiers have been killed and eight others wounded in clashes between the Ukrainian military and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine within the past 24 hours, a Ukrainian official said. 

"Separatists have violated the 'day of silence' cease-fire agreement 22 times within the past 24 hours," Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council spokesman, Andriy Lysenko said.

On Tuesday, the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists began 'a day of silence' in an attempt to revive a previous cease-fire, which was signed on Sept. 5 in Belarus' capital Minsk, but which has been violated numerous times.

Lysenko said that the separatists launched heavy weapon attacks in Luhansk, Donetsk and Debaltseve.

The separatists fired twice on military positions at the Donetsk airport within the past 24 hours, according to a statement by Ukraine's Anti-Terrorist Center.

The Ukrainian forces didn't respond and respected the cease-fire agreement, the statement said.

Lysenko, in a previous statement, had said that the "day of silence" -- agreed on upon President Petro Poroshenko's order -- would be observed for 24 hours, and could last longer depending on whether it is respected or not.

Between mid-April and Oct. 6, at least 3,600 people have died and 8,700 people have been wounded in the conflict between the Ukrainian government and the rebels, the UN Human Rights Office said in a report last month.

www.aa.com.tr/en