Nearly 2,000 soldiers killed in east Ukraine conflict: official

Some 2,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed since the outbreak of the conflict in the eastern parts of Ukraine nearly a year and a half ago, a government military official said here Monday.

"Our overall losses amounted to 1,915 people, including 1,757 deaths from combat," Igor Voronchenko, chief of the human resources department with the General Staff of Ukraine, told reporters during a press briefing.

A further 7,053 Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in the confrontation with independence-seeking insurgents. At least 76 Ukrainian troops are being held captive by rebels, while 271 more soldiers are still missing.

Fighting has been raging in Ukraine's restive east since mid-April 2014, when the government troops launched offensives against insurgents to regain control over seized cities and towns.

The violence has be on decline significantly this month, after the conflicting sides struck a new truce, which includes a complete cease of hostilities starting Sept.1, when a new school year began in Ukraine.

The United Nations data show nearly 8,000 people, including civilians, government troops and rebel fighters have been killed and more than 17,800 others wounded in the 17-months-old confrontation. Enditem