Thirty-nine shelling incidents have happened in eastern Ukraine in the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian anti-terrorist operation press center reported on Monday.

"Six Ukrainian patriots were killed and nine suffered injuries of varying degrees in the fighting in eastern areas of the country over the past day," the press center said in a report.

According to the press center, tensions were highest in the Bakhmutka road area where Ukrainian army positions were attacked with Grad rocket launchers near Krymske and Triokhizbenka. A Ukrainian unit stationed near Schastia was fired on with Grad launchers too.

Ukrainian positions at Donetsk airport were fired on twice with mortars, grenade launchers and light weapons.

"Artillery was used to destroy nests of militants firing at our positions," the press center said.

An Interior Ministry patrol walked into an ambush near Makarove on Sunday, the press center added. "Three police officers were killed and five were injured in the bold grenade launcher attack," it said.

Light weapons were fired at a roadblock near Chornukhyne on Sunday night, the press center said in conclusion.