Hundreds killed during Ukraine ceasefire

The UN said on Wednesday that despite a truce in eastern Ukraine, at least 331 people had been killed since it was agreed. This is in addition to the more than 3,600 people killed over the past six months in the Ukraine conflict.

The latest figure may include deaths that happened before the September 5 truce agreement but recorded afterwards, the UN said. It does not include the 12 people, mostly civilians, killed on Tuesday.

Clashes are continuing in the rebel-held city of Donetsk, as well as in surrounding areas, including the city's airport.

The government's hold on the airport gives it a strategic position to attack rebel positions in Donetsk.

Wednesday's report also found that before September 5, the pro-Russian rebels were helped by a large influx of foreign fighters, including apparently Russian citizens.

"While the ceasefire is a very welcome step towards ending the fighting in eastern Ukraine, I call on all parties to genuinely respect and uphold it, and to halt the attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure once and for all," said Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The UN said the death toll in Ukraine is "conservative." There are problems of under-reporting of military casualties, as well as bodies being burned or buried without being counted, or reportedly taken into Russia.

Deprivation of human rights

The conflict has affected some five million people. The UN says these people are being deprived of their basic rights. Some 22 Ukrainian settlements remain without running water, while 93 have no electricity.

"For almost half a year, residents of the areas affected by the armed conflict have been deprived of their fundamental rights to education, to adequate health care, to housing and to opportunities to earn a living," Zeid said.

Wednesay's report said that between August 24 and September 5, there was a "sharp increase in detentions by the armed groups" on the pro-Russian side, as well as "alarming reports of torture and ill-treatment of detainees, including mock executions and sexual violence."

Both Kyiv and several Western countries have repeatedly blamed Moscow for supporting the insurgency in eastern Ukraine with weapons and personnel, but Russia has adamantly denied involvement.

jr/nm (AP, AFP)