Ukraine authorities said Friday that 11 people were killed and dozens wounded in fighting in the country's restive eastern region, in a dangerous sign that the prolonged conflict in the area is descending into bloody violence.

Six government forces were killed and 18 other injured in deadly battles with pro-independence fighters in the past 24 hours, Ukrainian military spokesman Andrei Lysenko told reporters.

The military casualties came as fighting intensified in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, where the fighters launched an offensive to capture the government-controlled airport. Earlier in the day, they claimed to have seized the airport, while Kiev has denied losing control over the key facility.

Meanwhile, heavy fighting for the airport has affected Donetsk north-east neighborhoods close to the site, killing at least four civilians and wounding six others, the municipal council said.

Another civilian died after being caught in the crossfire between government forces and rebels in the neighboring Lugansk region, local authorities said.

The latest outbreak of violence marked a new wave of escalation of the nine-month-old conflict, which has killed more than 4,700 people since the Ukrainian government sent troops into eastern regions in mid-April to retake cities and towns captured by insurgents.

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