Four Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone on Thursday, one was taken prisoner, and another seven were injured as a result of shelling at the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the press center of the ATO headquarters said.

"Today, July 20, 2017, as a result of the enemy intensifying its actions, including the massive shelling of the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, four Ukrainian servicemen were killed and one was taken prisoner. Seven of our defenders were injured," the press center of the ATO headquarters said on its Facebook page on Thursday.

During the past day, July 19, 2017, four ATO servicemen were killed in Donbas: one military was killed by a bullet of the enemy sniper, three when an explosive device went off. Three more servicemen were injured.

"The Armed Forces of Ukraine gave a worthy response to the enemy, who suffered significant losses," the headquarters said.

Earlier this morning, Defense Ministry's spokesman Andriy Lysenko said five servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were killed and two injured on Thursday morning,

In addition, he said three Ukrainian soldiers were killed, another three injured in a mine blast on Wednesday. That day, another serviceman was killed in shelling in Maryinka.