Ukrainian Journalist Freed in Prisoner Swap
Freelance journalist Maria Varfolomeyeva has been released by separatists in eastern Ukraine after being detained for more than a year. (RFE/RL's Current Time TV)
Here's another update from our news desk:
UN Says Civilians Still Suffer In Ukraine, Despite Lull In Fighting
The United Nations said on March 3 that the war between Ukrainian government forces and Russia- backed separatists in eastern Ukraine is continuing to "significantly affect" civilians – despite a reduction of fighting under a cease-fire deal.
The report by the UN's human rights office comes as the foreign ministers of Russia, France, Germany, and Ukraine were gathering in Paris on March 3 for talks on how to push the peace process forward.
The Paris talks, assessing implementation of the Minsk accords that were signed a year ago, are aimed at reaching a political resolution to Ukraine's two-year-old civil war.
UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein said on March 3 that full implementation of the Minsk accord was crucial "for resolving the human rights crisis in Ukraine."
In an updated toll, the UN said at least 9, 160 people have been killed and 21,000 injured since the conflict began in 2014.
The updated casualty figures include civilians, Ukrainian government troops, and armed fighters.
With reporting by AFP
Here is today's map of the latest situation in the Donbas conflict zone, courtesy of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry (CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE):
