Donbas Counts 92 Militia, 242 Civilians Dead in January Clashes in Ukraine

DONETSK, February 2 (Sputnik) — At least 92 pro-independence militiamen and 242 civilians were killed as a result of renewed fighting in eastern Ukraine in January, leaders of self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics (DPR and LPR) said Monday.

In a joint statement, Alexander Zakharchenko and Igor Plotnitsky accused the Kiev authorities of planned and deliberate shelling of residential areas on militia-controlled territory in violation of previous ceasefire agreements.

"In January, we lost 242 civilians killed and 273 injured, 434 buildings were destroyed, 92 members of armed militia were killed and 411 wounded," the statement said.

The two leaders also called on Kiev authorities to settle the conflict in Ukraine in a peaceful manner through dialogue. They urged the international community and European organizations to see the situation in eastern Ukraine as it really is and to help prevent a further escalation of the crisis.

The latest round of trilateral reconciliation talks on Ukraine took place in Minsk on January 31 but did not yield any results. Zakharchenko and Plotnitsky blamed Kiev for the failure of the negotiations.

The talks took place as tensions run high in Donbas. Several shelling attacks over the past few weeks have killed dozens of civilians, including in the southeastern city of Mariupol, which is located outside of the main conflict zone.