OSCE Says East Ukraine Conflict Death Toll Exceeds 5,000

5,000 people were killed and 10,000 people were injured since the beginning of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, according to the spokesperson for the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), Michael Bochurkiv.

MOSCOW, January 22 (Sputnik) — The number of people killed since the beginning of the conflict in eastern Ukraine exceeds 5,000 people, the spokesperson for the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), Michael Bochurkiv told Ukrainian broadcaster Radio Vesti on Thursday.

Citing the UN data, Bochurkiv added that more than 10,000 people have been injured since the start of Kiev's military operation in Donbas. According to him, 1 million people have had to flee their homes and 5 million more have been affected by the conflict.

"The situation is clearly deteriorating. It is getting worse and it is shown by more and more civilian deaths," Bochurkiv said.

Earlier on Thursday, a mortar struck a trolleybus stop in the city, killing between nine and 15 people, according to various sources, and left several more injured.

The SMM has called for immediate ceasefire in Donbas in relation to the tragedy. The mission has also sent a patrol to the trolleybus stop to assess the situation.