Updated 4:35 p.m. Moscow Time
KIEV, September 17 (RIA Novosti) – The special operation against independence supporters in eastern Ukraine has cost Kiev $5 billion, an aide for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday.
Presidential aide for reconciliation, Iryna Herashchenko, also said that nearly $12 million were received as voluntary donations for the needs of the armed forces.
In April, Kiev launched its military operation against independence supporters in eastern Ukraine, who refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new government after a February coup.
According to the UN Human Rights Commission estimates, at least 3,000 people, including civilians, children and journalists on professional duty have died in the region since the operation started. Over 6,000 have been injured.
Heavy clashes and shelling by the Ukrainian Army have led to a humanitarian crisis in the area, with water, food and power shortages.
On September 5, the Contact Group on Ukraine, comprising the representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), held a meeting in Minsk, as a result of which Kiev and Ukrainian independence supporters agreed to a ceasefire that came into force on the same day.
