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Fighting Again Forces International Team in Ukraine to Retreat Fighting Again Forces International Team in Ukraine to Retreat
(about 2 hours later)
SHAKHTYORSK, Ukraine — Artillery fire blocked the route to the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines jetliner in eastern Ukraine on Monday, forcing an international delegation of European monitors and police officials to turn back without reaching the crash site.SHAKHTYORSK, Ukraine — Artillery fire blocked the route to the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines jetliner in eastern Ukraine on Monday, forcing an international delegation of European monitors and police officials to turn back without reaching the crash site.
The setback in efforts to secure the site, to recover any more bodies and to begin an independent investigation came as Navi Pillay, the most senior United Nations human rights official, said the downing of the Boeing 777-200 on July 17 may constitute a war crime. She did not ascribe blame.The setback in efforts to secure the site, to recover any more bodies and to begin an independent investigation came as Navi Pillay, the most senior United Nations human rights official, said the downing of the Boeing 777-200 on July 17 may constitute a war crime. She did not ascribe blame.
Ukrainian government troops are trying to retake control of the region around the crash site from pro-Russia rebels. The Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, said on Monday that the United Nations should guarantee security in the area, and he called on Ukraine to respect a United Nations Security Council resolution of July 21 that called on all parties to refrain from any action that would complicate the investigation.Ukrainian government troops are trying to retake control of the region around the crash site from pro-Russia rebels. The Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, said on Monday that the United Nations should guarantee security in the area, and he called on Ukraine to respect a United Nations Security Council resolution of July 21 that called on all parties to refrain from any action that would complicate the investigation.
United Nations monitors and Ukrainian officials displayed growing concern over allegations of human rights violations in eastern Ukraine. A report by United Nations rights monitors, released on Monday, said that “a total breakdown of law and order and a reign of fear and terror have been inflicted by armed groups on the population.”United Nations monitors and Ukrainian officials displayed growing concern over allegations of human rights violations in eastern Ukraine. A report by United Nations rights monitors, released on Monday, said that “a total breakdown of law and order and a reign of fear and terror have been inflicted by armed groups on the population.”
Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the interior minister of Ukraine, said on Monday that officials had found a mass grave containing 14 bodies in the center of the city of Slovyansk, which was a rebel stronghold until government troops recaptured it earlier this month.Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the interior minister of Ukraine, said on Monday that officials had found a mass grave containing 14 bodies in the center of the city of Slovyansk, which was a rebel stronghold until government troops recaptured it earlier this month.
The Malaysia Airlines plane, Flight 17, was on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it fell from the sky in eastern Ukraine near the Russian border, killing all 298 people on board. Ukrainian and American officials say that a Russian-made surface-to-air missile fired by separatist rebels brought down the jetliner. The Kremlin and the rebels have denied the accusation and say Ukraine is to blame for the crash.The Malaysia Airlines plane, Flight 17, was on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it fell from the sky in eastern Ukraine near the Russian border, killing all 298 people on board. Ukrainian and American officials say that a Russian-made surface-to-air missile fired by separatist rebels brought down the jetliner. The Kremlin and the rebels have denied the accusation and say Ukraine is to blame for the crash.
Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said on Monday that an analysis of the airliner’s flight recorders showed that shrapnel from a rocket blast had caused “massive explosive decompression.”Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said on Monday that an analysis of the airliner’s flight recorders showed that shrapnel from a rocket blast had caused “massive explosive decompression.”
It was not clear how that interpretation had been made known to officials in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, because the flight recorders are being examined in Britain. But Mr. Lysenko’s remarks were in line with other Western accounts and earlier independent analysis of wreckage from the plane, showing signs of shrapnel.It was not clear how that interpretation had been made known to officials in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, because the flight recorders are being examined in Britain. But Mr. Lysenko’s remarks were in line with other Western accounts and earlier independent analysis of wreckage from the plane, showing signs of shrapnel.
Mr. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, repeated the Kremlin’s call for the United States to make public whatever evidence it had to back up the accusation that the plane had been brought down by a missile fired from rebel-controlled territory.Mr. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, repeated the Kremlin’s call for the United States to make public whatever evidence it had to back up the accusation that the plane had been brought down by a missile fired from rebel-controlled territory.
“We do not understand why the Americans, who say that they have strong evidence to support their accusation, why they do not show that evidence,” he said at an hourlong news conference.“We do not understand why the Americans, who say that they have strong evidence to support their accusation, why they do not show that evidence,” he said at an hourlong news conference.
The United States has released some satellite photographs that it says shows Russian-supplied missile launchers in rebel-held territory and evidence that they had been used. The spokesman for the Russian defense ministry, Gen. Igor Konashenkov, called the images “fakes” on Monday, according to Russian news agencies. He was quoted as saying that the released images lacked precise locations and were too low in resolution to be definitive.
The general accused Ukraine and the United States of collaborating to create false evidence, and said the images had been manufactured at the security service headquarters in Kiev.
In eastern Ukraine, a large delegation of European monitors and unarmed Dutch and Australian police officers set out from the provincial capital, Donetsk, on Monday, trying to reach the crash site. Though several forensic experts accompanied the group, the main intention of the journey was to test the safety of the access route for larger groups of investigators who are seeking to recover bodies and evidence.In eastern Ukraine, a large delegation of European monitors and unarmed Dutch and Australian police officers set out from the provincial capital, Donetsk, on Monday, trying to reach the crash site. Though several forensic experts accompanied the group, the main intention of the journey was to test the safety of the access route for larger groups of investigators who are seeking to recover bodies and evidence.
The convoy left from an area of Donetsk under rebel control, and separatist fighters led the way in commandeered Ukrainian police cars, with their lights flashing. They were followed by vehicles of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and a car carrying the heads of the Dutch and Australian police contingents.The convoy left from an area of Donetsk under rebel control, and separatist fighters led the way in commandeered Ukrainian police cars, with their lights flashing. They were followed by vehicles of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and a car carrying the heads of the Dutch and Australian police contingents.
Separatists at checkpoints along the road waved the convoy through. But at Shakhtyorsk, the group stopped for a time, and artillery explosions could be heard on the road ahead. The convoy inched forward again, but then turned back because of the danger.Separatists at checkpoints along the road waved the convoy through. But at Shakhtyorsk, the group stopped for a time, and artillery explosions could be heard on the road ahead. The convoy inched forward again, but then turned back because of the danger.
Mr. Lysenko, the government spokesman in Kiev, acknowledged that Ukrainian armed forces were in the region, but he denied that they were fighting near the wreckage of the Malaysian plane on Monday. “The Ukrainian military has approached the site of the crash, but is not engaged in any active combat,” he said at a news briefing in Kiev.Mr. Lysenko, the government spokesman in Kiev, acknowledged that Ukrainian armed forces were in the region, but he denied that they were fighting near the wreckage of the Malaysian plane on Monday. “The Ukrainian military has approached the site of the crash, but is not engaged in any active combat,” he said at a news briefing in Kiev.
In a report issued in Geneva, human rights monitors for the United Nations said that although “casualty figures are hard to gauge reliably,” the best available estimates show that at least 1,129 people have been killed and 3,442 wounded in eastern Ukraine since mid-April.In a report issued in Geneva, human rights monitors for the United Nations said that although “casualty figures are hard to gauge reliably,” the best available estimates show that at least 1,129 people have been killed and 3,442 wounded in eastern Ukraine since mid-April.
Those figures were based partly on “conservative” estimates by the 39-member United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and by the World Health Organization, the report said.Those figures were based partly on “conservative” estimates by the 39-member United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and by the World Health Organization, the report said.
The United Nations report said more than 100,000 people had fled combat zones and sought refuge in other parts of Ukraine.The United Nations report said more than 100,000 people had fled combat zones and sought refuge in other parts of Ukraine.
Since mid-April, it said, 812 people had been abducted or detained by rebels acting with impunity.Since mid-April, it said, 812 people had been abducted or detained by rebels acting with impunity.
“Some of those detained by the armed groups are local politicians, public officials and employees of the local coal mining industry; the majority are ordinary citizens, including teachers, journalists, members of the clergy and students,” the report said.“Some of those detained by the armed groups are local politicians, public officials and employees of the local coal mining industry; the majority are ordinary citizens, including teachers, journalists, members of the clergy and students,” the report said.
It added that there had also been reports of detentions by Ukrainian government forces, as well as “some cases of Ukrainian nationals who allegedly have been taken and are currently detained in the Russian Federation on various charges.”It added that there had also been reports of detentions by Ukrainian government forces, as well as “some cases of Ukrainian nationals who allegedly have been taken and are currently detained in the Russian Federation on various charges.”
In Kiev, Mr. Gerashchenko, the interior ministry adviser, said that so far, investigators were able to identify four of the 14 bodies that were found in a mass grave in a grassy area in the center of Slovyansk, near an obelisk commemorating an unknown soldier. Mr. Gerashchenko said investigators had not yet determined how the victims had died, who had killed them or why. He said it appeared that some may have been separatists, while others may have been individuals captured and even “tortured” by separatists.In Kiev, Mr. Gerashchenko, the interior ministry adviser, said that so far, investigators were able to identify four of the 14 bodies that were found in a mass grave in a grassy area in the center of Slovyansk, near an obelisk commemorating an unknown soldier. Mr. Gerashchenko said investigators had not yet determined how the victims had died, who had killed them or why. He said it appeared that some may have been separatists, while others may have been individuals captured and even “tortured” by separatists.
In Brussels, meanwhile, ambassadors from the 28 member states of the European Union were expected to resume meetings on Monday afternoon to discuss placing Russian oligarchs on a list of individuals facing travel restrictions and asset freezes. The move against the oligarchs is a noteworthy step in what has become a slow drip of sanctions and punitive measures since Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in March.In Brussels, meanwhile, ambassadors from the 28 member states of the European Union were expected to resume meetings on Monday afternoon to discuss placing Russian oligarchs on a list of individuals facing travel restrictions and asset freezes. The move against the oligarchs is a noteworthy step in what has become a slow drip of sanctions and punitive measures since Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in March.
So far the only individuals to have faced such sanctions are those determined to have direct ties to the destabilization of Ukraine. By taking the further step of sanctioning the oligarchs, the Europeans aim to raise pressure on President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia by penalizing some of the wealthiest people in the country who form part of his inner circle.So far the only individuals to have faced such sanctions are those determined to have direct ties to the destabilization of Ukraine. By taking the further step of sanctioning the oligarchs, the Europeans aim to raise pressure on President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia by penalizing some of the wealthiest people in the country who form part of his inner circle.
But in Moscow, Mr. Lavrov said that while he evidently did not welcome the measures, he did not think that Europeans in particular wanted to impose them.But in Moscow, Mr. Lavrov said that while he evidently did not welcome the measures, he did not think that Europeans in particular wanted to impose them.
“We do not want to act tit-for-tat,” he said, adding that he was sure Russia could overcome any difficulties caused by the sanctions. “Maybe we will be even more independent and more confident in our own course,” he said.“We do not want to act tit-for-tat,” he said, adding that he was sure Russia could overcome any difficulties caused by the sanctions. “Maybe we will be even more independent and more confident in our own course,” he said.