UN blames Russia for ramping up Ukraine war

The United Nations released on Monday its latest report on the war in Ukraine, putting the number of dead at above 6,000 and the number of wounded at nearly 15,000.
The conflict had died down a bit in December, but an influx of military support from Russia had led to an escalation in fighting, dampening prospects for a peaceful resolution, UN Assistant Secretary General Ivan Simonovic said in Geneva according to the UN website on Monday.
"Credible reports indicate a continuing influx of heavy and sophisticated weaponry to armed groups in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as foreign fighters, including from the Russian Federation," said the UN in its ninth report on the Ukraine conflict, focusing on the period from December through mid-February.
"This has fueled the escalation of the conflict and new offensives by armed groups, undermining the potential for peace as armed groups extend their areas of control." The big losers have been Kiev and civilians.