Ukraine death toll tops 6,000 amid fighting: UN

Fyodor Guban, 45, stands in the ruins of his house in a neighborhood near the Donetsk airport March 1, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]

In late February 2014, the situation in Ukraine transcended what was initially seen as an internal Ukrainian political crisis into violent clashes in parts of the country, later reaching full- scale conflict in the east.

Despite the Minsk ceasefire, the situation in Ukraine has since continuously deteriorated, with serious consequences for the country's unity, territorial integrity and stability.

Recent media reports have suggested a potential worsening of the situation amid claims of a massive recruitment campaign by anti-government groups.

At the same time, the OHCHR observed a dangerous shift in the nature of the conflict following a series of recent deadly terrorist attacks in the cities of Kharkiv and Odessa and another suspected attack in Mariupol on Jan. 24.

The fighting has also sparked a massive outflow of refugees and displaced persons. Last month, the UN refugee agency reported at least 943,500 internally displaced persons, with Ukraine's Ministry of Social Policy on Monday counting some 980,000 people as currently internally displaced.

Moreover, more than 600,000 Ukrainians have fled the country, seeking refuge in neighboring countries, particularly Russia, but also Belarus, Moldova, Poland, Hungary and Romania, since February 2014.