KIEV, June 16 (Xinhua) -- More than 12,000 Ukrainian army soldiers have been either killed or injured in the conflict with independence-seeking insurgents in the country's eastern regions, the Ukrainian military said Friday.
The confrontation, which has been underway since April 2014, has claimed the lives of at least 2,696 government servicemen and left 9,903 others wounded, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters during a media briefing.
Last month, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said more than 2,000 civilians were killed and 7,000 to 9,000 others injured in the confrontation.
The casualty number among members of the armed groups remains unknown.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine has started after the government army launched offensives to regain control over the cities and towns seized by insurgents, who declared independence from Kiev.
More than 30 rounds of ceasefire have led to a reduction in hostilities over the past two years, but clashes between the conflicting sides still occur.
