You're reading: Casualties from Debaltseve cauldron: 136 dead, 331 injured – Ukrainian Defense Ministry

Ukrainian army casualties over the entire period of the defensive operation in Debaltseve amounted to 136 dead and 331 injured, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on its official site.

In particular, during the hostilities in Debaltseve from January 15 to February 18, 2015, 110 soldiers were killed, 270 injured, seven captured and 18 went missing, according to an analysis by the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff of the hostilities on the Debaltseve bridgehead from January 27 to February 18, 2015, which it called “the main battle between the Ukrainian army and Russian-terrorist troops.”

“Ukrainian troops sustained significant losses in armament. Around 30% of equipment was either destroyed by the enemy or put out of order by the forces of our units. For their participation in fighting for Debaltseve, 379 military servicemen (including 136 posthumously) received Ukrainian state awards and 450 were decorated by the Defense Ministry and the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff,” the ministry said.

As of January 27, 2015, some 13,000 personnel were deployed to Sector C, including over 8,000 from the armed forces, up to 1,500 from the National Guard, up to 250 from the Ukrainian Security Service, and over 3,000 from the Interior Ministry. The Sector C group had 120 tanks, 530 armored fighting vehicles, 180 artillery systems, and 65 multiple rocket launchers.

In all, some 4,700 personnel were deployed in the Debaltseve area in February 2015, including up to 1,500 people on the frontier between Semihiria and Troitske, up to 2,700 between Vuhlehirsk and Debaltseve, and up to 500 people between Bulavinske and Nikishine. In the same area, around 500 people were deployed from the National Guard, the Interior Ministry and the Security Service. Ukrainian troops in Debaltseve had 50 tanks, 40 artillery systems and 15 multiple rocket launchers.

When it became clear that it will be impossible to hold Debaltseve, it was decided to move Ukrainian troops to safe areas, according to the analysis.

“Ukrainian troops bravely defended the Debaltseve ledge, paralyzing the outnumbering forces of the enemy, preventing further offensives on other tracks, and creating conditions for goal achievement at talks in Minsk,” the General Staff said.