Two women were killed and a man suffered injuries in an artillery attack on the village of Novotoshkivske in the Popasna district of the Luhansk region, the press service of Luhansk region state administration head Hennadiy Moskal said.

"The town of Novotoshkivske, located in the vicinity of the 29th roadblock on the Bakhmutka [route], has been the target of massive Grad rocket launcher attacks in the past two days. Several dozen shells exploded in the town center. Residential buildings, a school and a shop have been hit directly. Some buildings were razed and burned down and some others suffered serious damage. Two women, aged 63 and 74, died and a [75-year-old] man was injured," the report said.

Ukrainian authorities put the blame on the militants.

Electric power and water supply has been disrupted, and most tenants have moved away. The Novotoshkivske population has depleted from over 2,200 to approximately 400.

Moskal reported the situation of Krymske, several kilometers from the former 31st roadblock, too. He said Grad rocket launchers damaged seven residential buildings there on Monday.

About 80% of the residents have abandoned Krymske and several dozens more are waiting for their chance to flee. They are planned to be evacuated by military vehicles.

"The evacuation of other villages which have found themselves on the frontline is in progress. About 70 villagers were moved from Stakhanovets (a neighborhood of Zolote-3) to Lysychansk by military servicemen yesterday. Only pensioners are left in the village; they are refusing to leave their homes," Moskal said.