RIA Novosti: UN Report Claims Nearly 2,220 Dead, 6,000 Injured in Ukraine Crisis Since Mid-April

Map of Western CIS/FSU and European Environs

GENEVA, August 29 (RIA Novosti) – A UN report published Friday said 2,220 people have died and some 6,000 have been injured between mid-April and August 17 in the Ukrainian crisis.

“As of 17 August, the total number of people killed (civilians, military personnel and some members of armed groups) is at least 2,220 since the fighting began in mid-April. At least 5,956 people have been wounded,” the report said.

The report said that intense fighting with heavy artillery from both sides in densely populated regions in eastern Ukraine has led to an average of 36 civilian deaths every day from July 16 through August 17.

It is also stated that more than 1,000 people had been detained in the Donbas Region as of August 16. Military prosecutors and the Ukrainian Security Service had already investigated more than 1,500 cases of offences committed by local officials and citizens in the east of the country, with more than 150 people having been prosecuted.

In Slaviansk, the Interior Ministry opened 86 criminal investigations into cases of kidnapping and enforced disappearance. About 20,000 Donetsk and Luhansk police officers were required to “re-qualify” in order to ascertain they had not been involved in any crimes while under the control of armed groups.

The United Nations in its report urged to seek for a peaceful resolution to the crisis and avoid a large-scale humanitarian disaster. It said that the rule of law and the respect for human rights should be ensured for everyone.

 

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