were flown to Moscow via Grozny. All attempts by their lawyers to be in contact with them, and gain some access to the two individuals, had failed. The HRMMU worked with the lawyers of the two journalists, and with others including the Ombudsperson, the NPM and the MFA. Through these institutions, requests were made on the case to the General Prosecutor, MoI and SBU. Upon their release, the journalists asserted that they were beaten in the first two days of their detention, initially held in a hole, blindfolded with hands tied, and then transferred to Kyiv. For the period from 18 May to 24 May, the journalists were effectively held in conditions that amounted to enforced disappearance. 219. The HRMMU was also looking into the detention conditions of supporters of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People’s Republic” detained by the Ukrainian forces during the security operations. Regular visits to places of detention take place, including in Kyiv when persons arrested have been transferred to detention facilities in the capital. The HRMMU actively cooperates with the Ombudsperson and the NPM to make sure the human rights of detained persons are upheld, including from the point of view of access to medication and to the services of a lawyer. Children 220. The HRMMU is particularly concerned about the impact of the situation in eastern Ukraine - especially in the area between Donetsk and Slovyansk - on the human rights of women, and the most vulnerable persons - children and persons with disabilities, including those in institutional care, older persons, and those needing medical assistance. 221. According to a rapid psychological assessment of 204 children conducted by the UNICEF64 in four cities of the region of Donetsk from 15 to 22 May, nearly every second child experienced fear, anger, sadness or problems with sleep. Other behavioural changes were also observed in a number of children. 222. According to Donetsk Regional State Administration, in the period between 9 – 30 May, seven children had been wounded as a result of the illegal activities of the armed groups. According to credible reports received by the HRMMU, 14 children from the children’s institution in Slovyansk have been evacuated from the city. An NGO in Kharkiv expressed concern that there were no evacuation plans for persons with disabilities living in closed institutions. On 7 June, the Ministry of Social Policy informed the HRMMU that out of 1,494 children who are in closed institutions (children’s institutions, shelters, and so forth) in Donetsk region, 663 have been evacuated; in Luhansk region out of 760 children, 464 have been evacuated. 223. As fighting intensifies and with the end of the school year on 30 May, parents are reportedly increasingly looking for ways to evacuate their children to safety. There is information that a group of children from Slovyansk has arrived in Crimea and most recently on 6 June to Odesa. On 30 May, various media outlets informed that a group of 148 children from Slovyansk was taken to a summer camp in Crimea. There were also reports that on 31 May, a group of 21 children crossed into the Russian Federation on foot, after having to disembark from their bus at the border. This information cannot be verified by the HRMMU. 64 UNICEF, Rapid Psychosocial Assessment of Children in Donetsk Oblast, 2014. 107 | P a g e