A report released by the U.N. on Monday accuses both pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces of torturing and carelessly bombing civilians for the past eight months, in which at least 4,634 people have died and 10,234 have been wounded.
"The total breakdown in law and order and the violence and fighting in the eastern regions, fueled by the cross-border inflow of heavy and sophisticated weaponry as well as foreign fights, including from the Russian Federation, has for the past eight months had a direct impact on all fundamental human rights - including the security, liberty and well-being of individuals living here," the report released by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said, reported AFP.
The report, covering from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30, 2014, notes that the situation is becoming "extremely dire" for older persons, children and institutionalized individuals.
Killings, torture, abduction for ransom and forced labor were cited as human rights abuses committed by members of armed groups, supported by increasing numbers of foreign fighters. Forced mobilization and threats of death penalties were other tactics used to intimidate and harass civilians in territory under control of armed groups, the report said.
The Ukrainian government's effort to restore law and order in the conflict zone was criticized for being accompanied by "arbitrary detentions, torture and forced disappearances of people suspected of 'separatism and terrorism.'"
"It should be recalled that the Government of Ukraine remains responsible for protecting human rights of residents in all its territory, including those territories in the East of Ukraine which remains held by armed groups."
While the cease fire stopped large-scale offensives, the report says indiscriminate shelling of built-up areas continues, with 100 incidents reported in November alone, and neither the Ukrainian government nor the armed groups have taken responsibility for any civilian deaths, according to the report.
"The actual numbers of casualties is likely to be higher as both military and civilian casualties remain under reported," the report said. "Over 1,000 bodies delivered to morgues in the conflict zone remain unidentified, and many site had not been searched to recover all remains due to continued fighting and insecurity."
