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| U.N. Report Faults Russia for Escalating Conflict in Ukraine | U.N. Report Faults Russia for Escalating Conflict in Ukraine |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| GENEVA — The United Nations said on Monday that an influx of troops and heavy weapons from Russia had intensified the conflict in eastern Ukraine, undermining prospects for peace and causing a significant rise in casualties. | GENEVA — The United Nations said on Monday that an influx of troops and heavy weapons from Russia had intensified the conflict in eastern Ukraine, undermining prospects for peace and causing a significant rise in casualties. |
| The United Nations estimated that more than 6,000 people have been killed since the fighting started in April, Ivan Simonovic, the organization’s assistant secretary general, told reporters in Geneva. | The United Nations estimated that more than 6,000 people have been killed since the fighting started in April, Ivan Simonovic, the organization’s assistant secretary general, told reporters in Geneva. |
| From mid-January to the middle of last month, at least 842 people were killed and more than 3,400 injured, said a United Nations report issued on Monday. Hundreds of people remained missing, it said, and many victims of the fighting have been buried without their deaths being recorded. | |
| “Credible reports indicate a continuing influx of heavy and sophisticated weaponry to armed groups in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as foreign fighters, including from the Russian Federation,” the United Nations said, reporting on developments over two months to mid-February. | “Credible reports indicate a continuing influx of heavy and sophisticated weaponry to armed groups in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as foreign fighters, including from the Russian Federation,” the United Nations said, reporting on developments over two months to mid-February. |
| The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is monitoring developments in Ukraine, had confirmed the inflow of troops and heavy weaponry from Russia, Mr. Simonovic said. | The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is monitoring developments in Ukraine, had confirmed the inflow of troops and heavy weaponry from Russia, Mr. Simonovic said. |
| “This has fueled the escalation of the conflict and new offensives by armed groups, undermining the potential for peace as armed groups extend their areas of control,” the report said. “This has resulted in further and significant increases in civilian and military casualties.” | “This has fueled the escalation of the conflict and new offensives by armed groups, undermining the potential for peace as armed groups extend their areas of control,” the report said. “This has resulted in further and significant increases in civilian and military casualties.” |
| The report was issued as Secretary of State John Kerry prepared to meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, in Switzerland to discuss the crisis in Ukraine and amid fears that Russian-backed rebels, after taking control of the Debaltseve area, may now push on to attack the port city of Mariupol. | The report was issued as Secretary of State John Kerry prepared to meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, in Switzerland to discuss the crisis in Ukraine and amid fears that Russian-backed rebels, after taking control of the Debaltseve area, may now push on to attack the port city of Mariupol. |
| Mr. Simonovic warned that such an offensive would most likely result in heavy casualties and further escalation and “internationalization” of the conflict. | Mr. Simonovic warned that such an offensive would most likely result in heavy casualties and further escalation and “internationalization” of the conflict. |
| Mr. Simonovic cited a rocket attack on Mariupol at the end of January that killed 31 people as an example of the growing use of heavy weapons by all sides and indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas. | Mr. Simonovic cited a rocket attack on Mariupol at the end of January that killed 31 people as an example of the growing use of heavy weapons by all sides and indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas. |
| Deliberate targeting of civilian areas could amount to a war crime, he said. | Deliberate targeting of civilian areas could amount to a war crime, he said. |
| The report also drew attention to the plight of civilians in areas of conflict, saying that attempted evacuations in government-controlled areas had apparently been targeted by shelling. But travel restrictions imposed by the government in Kiev had also made it harder for civilians to escape conflict areas, the United Nations said. | The report also drew attention to the plight of civilians in areas of conflict, saying that attempted evacuations in government-controlled areas had apparently been targeted by shelling. But travel restrictions imposed by the government in Kiev had also made it harder for civilians to escape conflict areas, the United Nations said. |
| More than 400 civilians continue to be held prisoner by pro-Russian armed groups, the United Nations monitors reported, noting that an “all for all” prisoner exchange included in the cease-fire agreement signed last month in Minsk, Belarus, had not been fully enacted. The report also cited “a pattern of enforced disappearances, secret detention and ill treatment by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies.” | More than 400 civilians continue to be held prisoner by pro-Russian armed groups, the United Nations monitors reported, noting that an “all for all” prisoner exchange included in the cease-fire agreement signed last month in Minsk, Belarus, had not been fully enacted. The report also cited “a pattern of enforced disappearances, secret detention and ill treatment by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies.” |
| Human rights conditions in Crimea have also deteriorated, the United Nations said, citing political pressure and intimidation directed against opponents of the authorities in control of the territory. | Human rights conditions in Crimea have also deteriorated, the United Nations said, citing political pressure and intimidation directed against opponents of the authorities in control of the territory. |
| The death of a Ukrainian news photographer in shelling over the weekend provided more evidence of the risks facing journalists in Ukraine, where 10 have died since the start of the year, Mr. Simonovic said. | The death of a Ukrainian news photographer in shelling over the weekend provided more evidence of the risks facing journalists in Ukraine, where 10 have died since the start of the year, Mr. Simonovic said. |