I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Intense and sustained fighting, as a result of the continuing violence by the armed groups and the ongoing security operation being undertaken by the Ukrainian Government, took a heavy toll on the human rights and humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine during the past month, with at least 36 people being killed on average every day.102 The number of casualties has more than doubled in total since the last report issued one month ago. As of 17 August, the total number of people killed (civilians, military personnel and some members of armed groups) is at least 2,220103 since the fighting began in mid-April.104 At least 5,956 people have been wounded. As previously noted,105 the armed groups are now professionally equipped and appear to benefit from a steady supply of sophisticated weapons and ammunition, enabling them to shoot down Ukrainian military aircraft such as helicopters, fighter jets and transport planes. The Ukraine Government claims that the Russian Federation is providing such equipment as well as fighters. The Ukrainian military has reported shelling from the territory of the Russian Federation, and of the illegal use of landmines in Ukraine territory near the border area.106 During the past month, the Ukrainian armed forces have tightened their blockades around the main strongholds of the armed groups – the cities of Luhansk, Donetsk and to a lesser extent Horlivka – and the situation in these cities has further deteriorated. Armed groups have continued to prevent residents from leaving, including through harassment at checkpoints where residents report being robbed, and firing at vehicles conveying fleeing civilians. The armed groups are locating their military assets in, and conducting attacks from, these densely populated areas, thereby putting the civilian population at risk. Targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure as well as indiscriminate attacks are violations of international humanitarian law and more must be done to protect them. Responsibility for at least some of the resulting casualties and damage lies with Ukrainian armed forces through reported indiscriminate shelling. All those involved must make a greater effort towards achieving a lasting and peaceful political solution which “is the most effective way to save lives and avoid a humanitarian disaster.”107 The situation was particularly dire in Luhansk as the fighting increased. On 1 August, the Luhansk City Council warned that the city was on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe: its residents were without water, electricity or gas, food sources were unreliable, cell phone communication was cut off and medical services were virtually non-existent. It reported that 93 civilians had been killed and 407 injured between 1 and 28 July. There had been extensive damage to buildings, including schools, residences, factories and stores. Starting on 30 July, a “safe corridor”, unilaterally established by the Ukrainian forces, enabled people to leave the city daily between the hours of 10am and 2pm; many thousands did so. Similar corridors were created for Donetsk and Horlivka. But the corridors traverse areas 102 This is the fifth report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Ukraine, based on the work of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). It covers the period from 16 July to 17 August 2014. 103 This is a very conservative estimate based on officially provided figures; the number of people killed or wounded may be considerably higher. 104 This date marked the beginning of the armed groups’ occupation of public buildings in a coordinated fashion in areas of the east. 105 See 4th monthly report of OHCHR on the human rights situation in Ukraine. 106 For example, the briefings of Andrii Lysenko, spokesperson for the Information-Analytical Center of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine at Ukraine Crisis Media Center on 10 and 11 August 2014. 107 Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General, 8 August 2014. 198 | P a g e