Nearly 1,000 Ukrainian troops killed in clashes with rebels

Kiev, Oct 7 (IANS/EFE) Nearly 1,000 Ukrainian troops were killed in fighting with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, authorities in Kiev said Tuesday.

Ukrainian chief military prosecutor Anatoly Matios told a press conference that 953 troops have been killed since the beginning of the conflict in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk earlier this year.

A further 3,627 soldiers were wounded in the offensive launched by Kiev after the pro-Russian uprising in the east that followed the overthrow of pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych last February, he said.

Over the past 24 hours, five soldiers were killed and 28 others wounded in ongoing clashes in the east of the country despite the ceasefire agreed between both sides Sep 5 in Minsk, according to Matios.

He added that since the ceasefire was called, 64 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 346 injured.

The heaviest clashes have been taking place around the international airport in Donetsk since the truce went into effect.

The pro-Russians have accused Ukrainian forces of the continued use of artillery fire against the suburbs of Donetsk.

Donetsk city officials said Tuesday that the artillery fire had caused the death of four civilians in the past 24 hours.

--IANS/EFE

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