Eighty-five civilians killed in Donbas this year - OSCE

22.12.2017 16:45

Ukrinform

Eighty-five civilians, including an OSCE representative, have been killed in the conflict in eastern Ukraine since the beginning of 2017, according to the latest data from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission

OSCE SMM Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug said this at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I would like to take this opportunity to reflect also on the victims of the conflict. This year so far, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission has confirmed the death of 85 people and the injury of 384. Among them was a colleague of ours, Joseph Stone, killed by what probably was an anti-tank mine near Pryshyb on April 23," Hug said.

According to him, while the conflict raged in eastern Ukraine in 2017, observers see the willingness and ability to make things better to improve the lives of the civilian population.

"It is possible that the people of eastern Ukraine have a happy and peaceful New Year. And it is this, a happy and peaceful New Year, that I, on behalf of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, sincerely wish to all people of Ukraine," Hug said.