More well-equipped pro-Russian separatists of the "Donetsk People's Republic" in Ukraine:
From our news desk:
In a new report, the UN says the conflict in eastern Ukraine has killed nearly 2,600 people since mid-April and notes "serious human rights abuses" including abductions and torture committed "primarily" by pro-Russian separatists.
The report, presented in both Geneva and Kyiv on August 29, also documents violations committed by Ukrainian forces in their efforts to recapture territory from rebels.
The UN said the sharp increase in casualties -- around 36 people each day -- is explained by fighting occurring in densely populated areas.
The report says it is not known precisely how many people remain in captivity in Ukraine but says that as of August 17 at least 468 are believed to be still detained by various armed groups.
The UN's high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, said the "deliberate targeting of civilians is a violation of international humanitarian law, and more must be done to protect them."
Read our story on the Soldier's Mothers Committee's complaints here: In Russia, Ukraine War Hits Home With Secret Funerals, Missing Men
We will be examining this trend ourselves a little later today:
For the sake of context, here is a map of the historical Novorossia:
LATEST from our news desk:
Kyiv has said a call by Russian President Vladimir Putin for a "humanitarian corridor" to allow Ukrainian troops encircled in the east to withdraw proves Moscow's hand in the conflict.
In a statement, Ukraine's military said on August 29 that Putin's statement testified to only one thing -- "[the separatists] are led and controlled directly from the Kremlin."
Putin urged rebels in what he termed "Novorossia" to open corridors to allow trapped Ukrainian troops to withdraw safely.
NATO ambassadors are holding an emergency meeting on August 29 in Brussels to discuss the Ukraine crisis, a day after the United States blamed the conflict squarely on Russia, saying it has "outright lied" about its role.
NATO say at least 1,000 Russian troops are operating in Ukraine and released satellite photos that it says show Russian artillery units in the country.
Russia's Defense Ministry dismissed the photos. (Reuters and AP)
Economic warning signs increase for Moscow:
Ukraine's UNIAN news agency reporting that witnesses say Russian columns of military equipment entering Luhansk: