12. Nevertheless people trapped in areas controlled by the armed groups continue to be killed as the heavy shelling continues from both sides. Questions arise about the conformity of these attacks with the rules governing the conduct of hostilities. It is essential that the authorities conduct full and impartial investigations of all incidents where civilians have lost their lives or been wounded. 13. Civilians continue to be abducted by the armed groups. Some people previously abducted and recently released have reported being tortured by them. New allegations of executions by the armed groups have arisen. There have also been cases reported of enforced disappearances of people detained by Government forces, including in areas where the Ukrainian authorities have regained control. The Government must guarantee accountability for all its actions, curtailing impunity and ensuring the local population do not face reprisals. There is also concern about the arbitrary detention of people who are suspected of being supportive of the armed groups. 14. Meanwhile, the situation in the east has begun to impact the rest of Ukraine. Although most people carried on their lives as normal outside the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, there are already signs that violence in the east is having an impact elsewhere. 15. One of the most obvious and immediate impacts has been the increase in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) – the majority of whom are women and children having to be accommodated in the rest of the country. Initially the Government was slow to react to the growing flood of people fleeing the violence in the east, relying on volunteers and the goodwill of the local receiving communities. But as the numbers increased and the lack of coordination, planning and resources became evident, the State Service for Emergency Services stepped in. However, many problems remained to be addressed, including the need for a central registry to document the IDPs, and for the central government to ease access of the IDPs to important social and economic rights. This was partly addressed in a decision in June by the Cabinet. However, other concerns remain, including meeting the specific needs of women and children, who make up the majority of the IDPs. Most IDPs are accommodated in private homes, sanatoriums, student dormitories (that are currently vacant during the summer holidays), or in other temporary situations. If the fighting and hostilities in the east continue, there is concern about how this temporary accommodation will be maintained, especially as the weather gets colder and if the summer sanatoriums are not winterized. 16. At the same time, there is concern that there might be a new wave of IDPs from Crimea in the next few months because of tightening restrictions, the continuing harassment and discrimination against ethnic Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars, and representatives of minority groups in general, as well as stringent limitations of the rights of association, peaceful assembly and expression. 17. A second impact of the worsening situation in the east, are the instances of use of hate speech. High level public condemnations of such troubling developments are required. There are reports of Russian-owned banks and some businesses having been targeted by activists who charged them with ‘financing terrorism ’in the eastern regions. Steps have been taken to ban the Communist Party. Negativity about IDPs has begun to surface, in particular on social media, further dividing opinions between east and west. 18. Concerned about the lack of military equipment, families and local communities themselves have provided basics such as flak jackets, ammunition, and food to new troops being sent to the Government security operation. Local and regional authorities have tried to manage with the growing need to provide social protection to the increasing number of 135 | P a g e