Dozens of soldiers and civilians came to St. Sophia Square in Kyiv on Feb. 21 to commemorate the Ukrainian servicemen who were killed in the Battle of Debaltseve one year ago. After the fighting, Russian-backed forces took control of the Donetsk Oblast city of 84,700 people, some 750 southeast of Kyiv.
The Battle of Debaltseve went on for several months and ended in February of 2015 when Ukrainian troops withdrew from the city
The Ukrainian government said that 136 soldiers were killed and 331 were wounded during the entire period of the defense of Debaltseve. In the time of the most intense fighting in January – February of 2015, 110 soldiers were killed, 270 were wounded, seven were taken captive and 18 soldiers went missing.
About 50 people in camouflage marched from the Kyiv City Administration on Khreshchatyk Street to St. Sofia Square, where they lit candles in memory of the fallen soldiers.
The ceremony was organized by several veteran unions.
