The true human cost of violence in eastern Ukraine was exposed Monday with a United Nations report revealing that more than 1,100 people have been killed during the conflict with 100,000 others forced to leave their homes. The fighting between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian government troops has created a lawless environment where armed militants control the population using arbitrary detentions, torture, and executions, according to the report by U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.
These "raw and brutal" means of control have been compounded by $750 million damage to infrastructure, with water, power and sewage cut off in some areas. While Pillay pointed out the "impunity in the areas under the control of the armed groups," she also urged Ukrainian troops who have retaken many areas in recent weeks to observe international law. Meanwhile, more fighting was reported Monday near the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, forcing international monitors heading to the crash site to turn back.
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