This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/02/world/europe/ukraine-conflict-toll-un.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Fighting in Ukraine Eases, but Abuses Continue on Both Sides, U.N. Says Fighting in Ukraine Eases, but Abuses Continue on Both Sides, U.N. Says
(35 minutes later)
GENEVA — Fighting in eastern Ukraine has eased recently, but at least 6,417 people have died in the conflict and abuses that may amount to war crimes continue to be committed by both sides, the United Nations said Monday.GENEVA — Fighting in eastern Ukraine has eased recently, but at least 6,417 people have died in the conflict and abuses that may amount to war crimes continue to be committed by both sides, the United Nations said Monday.
Nearly 16,000 people have also been injured since fighting broke out between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists in the region in April 2014, Ivan Simonovic, assistant head of the United Nations human rights office, told reporters in Geneva in presenting the latest report of its monitors.Nearly 16,000 people have also been injured since fighting broke out between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists in the region in April 2014, Ivan Simonovic, assistant head of the United Nations human rights office, told reporters in Geneva in presenting the latest report of its monitors.
The casualty estimates were conservative, Mr. Simonovic stressed. Both sides have reported that hundreds of people are missing, and morgues in the contested areas reportedly hold hundreds more bodies, the report said. The casualty estimates were conservative, Mr. Simonovic emphasized. Both sides have reported that hundreds of people are missing, and morgues in the contested areas reportedly hold hundreds more bodies, the report said.
Indiscriminate shelling and the number of civilian casualties resulting from the fighting have fallen since February, but “the shelling has not stopped, nor have armed hostilities between Ukrainian armed forces and armed groups, meaning that civilians continue to live in fear,” the human rights office said in a statement released with its report, which focuses on developments in the three months to May 15. Indiscriminate shelling and the number of civilian casualties from the fighting have fallen since February, but “the shelling has not stopped, nor have armed hostilities between Ukrainian armed forces and armed groups, meaning that civilians continue to live in fear,” the human rights office said in a statement released with its report, which focuses on developments in the three months to May 15.
Moreover, there are reports of “horrific accounts of torture and ill-treatment in detention” by both sides, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the head of the human rights office, said in a statement. “We have documented alarming reports of summary executions by armed groups and are looking into similar allegations against Ukrainian armed forces,” he said.Moreover, there are reports of “horrific accounts of torture and ill-treatment in detention” by both sides, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the head of the human rights office, said in a statement. “We have documented alarming reports of summary executions by armed groups and are looking into similar allegations against Ukrainian armed forces,” he said.
Those abuses, if proved in a court, would constitute war crimes, Mr. Simonovic said.Those abuses, if proved in a court, would constitute war crimes, Mr. Simonovic said.
In Crimea, the United Nations said that Tatars — a Muslim group that local officials accuse of working against Russian interests — and political opposition faced arrests, torture, ill-treatment and intimidation “with the knowledge or participation of the law enforcement or affiliated groups.” In Crimea, the United Nations said, Tatars — a Muslim group that local officials accuse of working against Russian interests — and members of the political opposition faced arrests, torture, ill-treatment and intimidation “with the knowledge or participation of the law enforcement or affiliated groups.”
Monitors had received reports of sophisticated weapons and fighters crossing into Ukraine from Russia, and there was “increasing evidence that active-service Russian soldiers were operating in Ukraine, Mr. Simonovic said. Monitors have received reports of sophisticated weapons and of fighters crossing into Ukraine from Russia, Mr. Simonovic said, and there is “increasing evidence that active-service Russian soldiers were operating in Ukraine.”
“The withdrawal of foreign fighters and the cessation of the flow of weapons from the Russian Federation would have a significant impact on law and order” and on implementation of the Minsk cease-fire agreements, the report said. “The withdrawal of foreign fighters and the cessation of the flow of weapons from the Russian Federation would have a significant impact on law and order” and on the implementation of the cease-fire agreements of Minsk, Belarus, the report said.
The United Nations called for priority to be given to the clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance reporting “considerable” numbers of casualties. It cited Health Ministry reports that at least 42 children had been killed and 109 wounded by mines and other explosive devices in the areas round Donetsk and Luhansk controlled by pro-Russian armed groups since March 2014. The United Nations asked that priority be given to the clearing of mines and unexploded ordnance, which they said caused “considerable” numbers of casualties. It cited reports from the Ukrainian Health Ministry saying that at least 42 children had been killed and 109 wounded by mines and other explosive devices in the areas around Donetsk and Luhansk that have been controlled by pro-Russian armed groups since March 2014.
The United Nations also expressed concern about the safety of journalists in Ukraine, reporting that a Ukrainian photographer killed in a mortar attack in February was the eighth journalist killed in the fighting. The United Nations also expressed concern about the safety of journalists in Ukraine, reporting that a Ukrainian photographer who died in a mortar attack in February was the eighth journalist killed in the fighting.
The monitors cited frequent allegations of journalists detained by armed groups and reported the murder of the journalist Oles Buzyna, a well-known critic of the Ukrainian government, who was killed by two masked men near his home in the capital Kiev in April. The monitors cited frequent reports of journalists being detained by armed groups and the death of the journalist Oles Buzyna, a well-known critic of the Ukrainian government who was killed by two masked men near his home in the capital, Kiev, in April.