The Ukrainian military says five of its soldiers died in heavy separatist shelling of Ukrainian army positions at Avdiivka just north of separatist-held Donetsk.
Three Ukrainian militaries died earlier when a mine blew up, the military said.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
BBC: Five Ukrainian soldiers die in fierce clash with Russia-backed separatists
Ukrainian soldier heads to his post at the positions in the eastern city of Avdiyivka on May 17. 2017
