A Ukrainian serviceman was killed near the town of Novotoshkivske in the Popasna district of the Luhansk region when the hostiles tried to break through the line of defense, regional administration deputy chairman Yuriy Klymenko said on Friday.

"Today we have lost another son of Ukraine who was protecting its sovereignty and independence. My condolences to the family and friends of the deceased soldier," a report published on the Luhansk regional administration's website quoted Klymenko as saying.

A hostile sabotage-and-reconnaissance group made the incursion attempt with the support of 120mm mortars, the report said.

The situation has exacerbated throughout the contact line, Klymenko said.

In all, the hostiles opened fire 15 times along the contact line on Thursday and during the night, while Ukrainian army fortifications near the villages of Novo-Oleksandrivka and Novozvanivka in the Popasna district came under seven attacks by use of automatic and under-barrel grenade launchers, heavy machineguns and small arms, the Luhansk regional administration said.

Six attacks involving 120mm and 82mm mortars, various types of grenade launchers, heavy machineguns and small arms were seen in the area of Krymske and Lobacheve in the Novoaidar district, while anti-tank and under-barrel grenade launchers were fired on Ukrainian army positions near Stanytsia Luhanska, it said.