A new UN report [text, PDF] released Thursday found a dismal situation in eastern Ukraine [BBC profile] with regards to human rights. As a result of escalating hostilities the past few months, the report cites an increasingly disturbing disregard for the protection of civilians by both sides during the conflict. The report found [OHCHR press release] a 66 percent increase in conflict-related civilian casualties from May through August. The UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) [official website] has recorded 9,640 deaths and 22,431 injuries among Ukrainian armed forces, civilians and members of the armed groups since the conflict began over two years ago. The majority of civilian casualties have resulted from shelling and a considerable number have also been killed by mines and other booby traps. Civilians in these areas are deprived of protection and access to services and aid and are unable to move. Furthermore, there have been countless cases of torture, ill-treatment and detention.

Russia and Ukraine have been in conflict since the annexation of Crimea [JURIST backgrounder] in March 2014. In July AI and HRW released the 56-page report detailing how Ukrainian government officials and Russia-backed separatists in the Ukraine have subjected citizen to “prolonged, arbitrary detention,” torture, or other forms of inhumane treatment, including refusing necessary medical attention [JURIST report]. In June the UN human rights office reported that the human rights situation in Ukraine remains troublesome [JURIST report] following two years of conflict with Russia. In February Russia filed suit [JURIST report] against Ukraine over Ukraine’s default on $3 billion in bonds. A Ukrainian official said in January that the nation plans to sue Russia [JURIST report] in the International Court of Justice on claims of financing terrorism. Last August a Russian military court sentenced [JURIST report] two Ukrainian activists to substantial jail time for the charge of conspiring to commit terror attacks. In March of last year the EU committed to stand by its policy of refusing to recognize Crimea’s annexation [JURIST report].