GENEVA, July 28 (RIA Novosti) – Pro-Kiev forces are employing heavy weaponry against independence supporters in Ukraine’s eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, a report released by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, said Monday.
Independence forces are also using such weaponry, according to Pillay.
“The reports of increasingly intense fighting in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions are extremely alarming, with both sides employing heavy weaponry in built-up areas, including artillery, tanks, rockets and missiles,” the report read.
Pillay called on both sides to end fighting as the situation in eastern Ukraine has deteriorated during past two weeks.
“Already increasing numbers of people are being killed with serious damage to civilian infrastructure, which – depending on circumstances – could amount to violations of international humanitarian law. The fighting must stop,” Pillay said.
According to the report, more than 1,100 people have been killed in the Ukrainian conflict since mid-April and more than 100,000 others have fled the conflict zone.
Earlier in the day, a representative of Russian interagency command group told RIA Novosti the number of refugees accommodated in temporary settlements in various regions of Russia has almost reached 33,000. According to the Russian Federal Migration Service, more than 500,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered Russia since April.
