KIEV, Feb. 18 - Seven miners have been killed in an explosion at the Pivnichna mine of the Makiyivvuhillia state enterprise in Ukraine's Donetsk region.

A total of 87 miners were working in the mine when the explosion occurred in the evening on February 17, the state emergency service press office said. Following the explosion seven miners died and nine others have sustained various injuries and have been admitted to Donetsk and Makiyivka hospitals, the press office said.