8 Ukrainian Soldiers Still Remain Prisoners After Bloody 2014 Battle

Eight Ukrainian soldiers who fought in one of the bloodiest battles in Ukraine’s war with Russia are still being held prisoner by pro-Russia separatists, according to a report by the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Public Affairs Office.

The eight soldiers took part in the battle for the city of Ilovaisk in August 2014, during which many Ukrainian troops perished in Kyiv’s largest military defeat since the war began over three years ago.

"According to the results of the investigation, we report that the total combat losses...in the Ilovaysk region consist of 437 people (192 were killed, 212 were injured, 25 are missing, and 8 are hostages)," the Armed Forces’ statement reads.

However, the Armed Forces’ data on losses differs from information disclosed earlier this week by the Prosecutor General's Office. Since Ilovaisk, the prosecutor’s office has been investigating the causes of the defeat.

According to its information, on August 29, 2014, as Ukrainian forces withdrew from Ilovaysk, "366 Ukrainian soldiers died, 429 sustained injuries with various degrees of severity, 300 were captured."

However, the prosecutor’s report did not mention that Ukrainian soldiers who fought at Ilovaisk remained in captivity.

READ MORE: Mistakes and Mass Desertion: Report Identifies Causes of Ukraine’s Largest Military Defeat