9 Ukrainian soldiers killed in bloodiest day of fighting in 2017

Daniel Brown/Business Insider

A Ukrainian soldier aims his weapons towards Russian-backed separatist positions in Avdiivka in April 2017.

The United States is condemning an outbreak of violence in eastern Ukraine, calling it the deadliest 24-hour period so far this year.

Ukraine's military says nine soldiers have died in the east where Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels have been fighting for more than three years. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says that five deaths were in clashes that appear to have been initiated by what she described as Russian-led forces.

Ten soldiers were also wounded, and one was captured, according to the Ukrainian Ministry Defense. Two civilians were also reported wounded in Avdiivka on Wednesday. 

Nauert says the U.S. is asking the Russia-supported troops to abide by the terms of a cease-fire deal for eastern Ukraine that was signed in early 2015 but never fully implemented. She says the U.S. calls on those forces to allow international monitors to have "full, safe and unfettered" access to the conflict zone.

Sixteen Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, and 35 more have been wounded, in the first 19 days of July, according to Liveuamap.