Ukraine president says almost 7,000 civilians killed in war
KIEV - Ukraine's president said Friday almost 7,000 civilians have died and a thousand more remain unaccounted for as a result of the unrest that has gripped his country over the past year.
Speaking before parliament, Petro Poroshenko said that 1,657 Ukrainian troops had died in fighting with the Russian-backed separatists seeking the breakaway of two eastern regions.
Poroshenko's figures mark a major upward revision of earlier estimates.
An uneasy cease-fire has been in place since mid-February, but it has been marred by regular violations.
