Kyiv hosts The Post of Memory exhibition on 2nd anniversary of Ilovaisk tragedy

As UNIAN reported earlier, after fierce fighting late in August 2014, Ukrainian servicemen participating in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in eastern Ukraine were surrounded near the town of Ilovaisk in Donetsk region. The Russian military shot into the "live corridor," which, according to the agreement, was to be used by retreating Ukrainian soldiers.

The Ukrainian army suffered heavy losses. Only official figures state that 366 Ukrainian troops were killed and 249 were wounded. Additionally, 128 were captured, while 158 were designated as missing.

The Ukrainian parliament's ad hoc commission that has been probing the Ilovaisk tragedy estimates total losses of 1,000 Ukrainian troops during that battle. According to the military prosecutor's office, the number of separatist fighters with Russian regular troops during the fighting near Ilovaisk exceeded 16,000 men.

Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko, on August 26, 2016, stated that the cause behind the Ilovaisk tragedy was the invasion of Russian troops, along with Ukrainian commanders' incompetence in the planning of the retreat.