By Ali Cura

KIEV, Ukraine  

Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and five others injured during Tuesday operations in the east of the country, authorities in Kiev said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a briefing, spokesman for the government’s anti-terror operations Andrey Lysenko, said separatist rebels had doubled their attacks in October compared to September, and added that rebels targeted Ukrainian forces over 1,300 times.

"In 24 hours, two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and another five were wounded during the military operations," Lysenko said.

Three rebels were also killed and three more injured, he added.

Ukraine has been wracked by conflict since April 2014, following Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

Around 9,300 people have been killed in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russia separatists, according to the UN.