UN: Eastern Ukraine still 'volatile' after two years of conflict

The latest report on Ukraine by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was issued on June 3. Its release follows a recent seven-day visit to the country by UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic, who warned the "crisis is far from over." “The increase in heavy weaponry near the contact line, and the hostilities around Avdiivka and Yasynutava, in the Donetsk region since early March, are all indicators that the crisis is far from over and should not fall off the radar of the international community,” said Simonovic. The report focused on the plight of the 2.7 million people living in armed group-controlled areas, saying they facing severe curtailing of their freedoms of expression, assembly and association, as well as tough living conditions. It also updated casualty figures for the conflict, saying some 9,371 people have been killed and 21,532 others injured since fighting began in April 2014.