Kyiv Authorities Say Over 700 Missing in War-Torn Eastern Ukraine
KYIV – At least 700 persons have gone missing in the eastern Ukraine since the outbreak of armed conflict between pro-Russian separatists and government troops in April, Ukrainian authorities said on Friday.
The figure includes unaccounted-for members of the Ukrainian military, said the spokesman for the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), Andriy Lysenko, as quoted by local agencies.
He added that all possible efforts are being made to find the missing individuals and allow them to return to their homes.
In that regard, the NSDC spokesman criticized the pro-Russian insurgents who have taken control of parts of the eastern Ukraine for their unwillingness to fulfill their commitments.
Last week, the UN presented a report by its human rights mission to the region, noting that the armed conflict in Ukraine has killed 4,317 people and caused 9,921 injuries since the beginning of hostilities.
Despite the cease-fire between the government and the leaders of the separatist groups, reached in Sept. 5, the fighting has not ended and an average of thirteen people have died every day since the accord was signed.
For their part, the pro-Russian separatists claim that almost 5,000 people have been killed as a result of the armed conflict in the rebellious eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.