Close to 1,400 people have been killed , and more than 4,000 wounded , since mid - April . Donetsk braces for offensive . ` ` Today , with all certainty , there 's a need to speak about a true tragedy , '' says Russian official . A U.S. military team in Kiev is leading the recovery efforts of the Flight MH17 . NATO official says there are about 20,000 Russian troops near the Ukraine border .
Close to 1,400 people have been killed , and more than 4,000 wounded , since mid - April . ` ` Today , with all certainty , there 's a need to speak about a true tragedy , '' says Russian official . A U.S. military team in Kiev is leading the recovery efforts of the Flight MH17 . NATO official says there are about 20,000 Russian troops near the Ukraine border .