UN says 9,333 killed since Ukraine conflict began

Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Vadym Prystiako display graphics during a Security Council meeting on the conflict in Ukraine, Thursday, April 28, 2016 at U.N. headquarters. Fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces has claimed thousands of lives over the past two years. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) (The Associated Press)

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Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin speaks during a Security Council meeting on the conflict in Ukraine, Thursday April 28, 2016 at U.N. headquarters. Fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces has claimed thousands of lives over the past two years. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) (The Associated Press)

United States United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power speaks during a Security Council meeting on the conflict in Ukraine, Thursday April 28, 2016 at U.N. headquarters. Fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces has claimed thousands of lives over the past two years. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) (The Associated Press)

UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. says nearly 10,000 people have been killed and more than 20,000 injured since the Ukraine conflict begin in April 2014.

Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Taye-Brook Zerihoun told the Security Council on Thursday that the total number of casualties now stands at 30,729 including 9,333 people killed and 21,396 injured.

He said the latest incident occurred on April 27 when shelling killed at least four civilians and injured at least eight people in Olenivka near the city of Donetsk.

Zerihoun said that fighting has escalated in recent weeks to levels not seen since August 2014, when it was at its most intense and he called on all parties to cease hostilities.

Thursday's Security Council meeting was the first to address the situation in Ukraine since December 2015.