Two people have been killed and another seven have been injured in Luhansk over the past 24 hours as fighting continues in the area, the Luhansk city administration said in a press release, posted on its Web site.

"Two persons have died from their gunshot wounds and injuries sustained as a result of armed clashes. Another seven civilians have been injured," he said.

Ambulances have responded to 160 calls in the past 24 hours, the city administration said.

"All in all, 21 buildings have been damaged over the past 24 hours" in four neighborhoods of Luhansk, it said.

The continuing fighting in Luhansk has caused damage to the city's infrastructure as well, the administration said.

"A total of 12,000 people have been left without power in the Kamianobridsky, Artemivsky and Zhovtnevy districts. Gas supplies have been cut off to 5,000 residents in the Armevisky, Kamianobridsky and Leninsky districts. Water supplies have been disrupted to some 1,000 people in the Hayovy residential area," it said.

The city's emergency and utility services are currently working to restore power, water and gas supplies to these neighborhoods, the administration said.