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Military casualties in E. Ukraine conflict surpass 600 this year: defense minister

Xinhua, June 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

More than 600 Ukrainian army soldiers have been killed or injured in clashes with independence-seeking insurgents in eastern regions since the beginning of this year, Ukrainian defense minister said on Wednesday.

"This year, our combat losses, both -- irreversible and sanitary -- amounted to 623 Ukrainian soldiers," Stepan Poltorak said in a press release.

Despite the ceasefire regime, the situation in Donetsk and Lugansk regions continues to aggravate, Poltorak said, accusing the insurgents of violating the truce almost 7,000 times this year.

Earlier Wednesday, government military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said that two Ukrainian servicemen had been killed and seven others injured in the restive areas in the past 24 hours.

Besides, a civilian was wounded in Tuesday's shelling in Kurakhove town in Donetsk region, said the press service of Donetsk regional administration.

After more than half-year of a relative lull, hostilities intensified in the conflict-hit region last month, causing new combatant and civilian casualties.

Overall, the confrontation that started in April 2014 has claimed more than 9,300 lives and wounded almost 22,000 people. Endit