At least 331 people have been killed during a fragile ceasefire between Ukraine government troops and Russian-backed separatists, according to the UN. The truce is a little over a month old, reports GHN based on DW.
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.