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U.N.: Nearly 1,000 killed during 'cease-fire' in east Ukraine

According to statistics from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, 957 deaths have been recorded in eastern Ukraine since the Sept. 5 Minsk cease-fire was signed.

By JC Finley
A woman wearing a Ukranian flag lights candles at the site of clashes with riot police in Kiev on Jan. 24, 2014, during Viktor Yanukovych's presidency. (UPI/Ivan Vakolenko)
A woman wearing a Ukranian flag lights candles at the site of clashes with riot police in Kiev on Jan. 24, 2014, during Viktor Yanukovych's presidency. (UPI/Ivan Vakolenko) | License Photo

NEW YORK, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The United Nations released a report Thursday, detailing the "serious human rights violations" that have continued in eastern Ukraine despite a Sept. 5 cease-fire agreed to by all parties to the conflict.

According to statistics from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, 957 deaths have been recorded since the cease-fire was signed. At least 4,317 people have been killed in the conflict region since mid-April, and another 9,921 injured.

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"Accountability and an end to impunity are at the core of ensuring peace, reconciliation and long term recovery," the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine recommended in its report.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein lamented that "The list of victims keeps growing."

"Civilians, including women, children, minorities and a range of vulnerable individuals and groups continue to suffer the consequences of the political stalemate in Ukraine."

Despite all parties signing the Minsk Protocol to de-escalate the crisis through the institution of an immediate cease-fire and the withdrawal of illegal armed groups, mercenaries and military equipment, NATO has reported a "military buildup, both along the borders towards Ukraine on the Russian side, but also we see Russian troops inside eastern Ukraine."

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Russia has repeatedly denied its military forces are inside Ukraine to help bolster pro-Russian separatists.

"We should do what we can to make Russia and the separatists respect the Minsk agreements," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday during an interview with Estonian television.

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