The United Nations has not received any hard evidence that Russia supplied pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine with weapons, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said Thursday.
"We were unable to get hard evidence of the supply of weapons," Pillay said in comments carried by ITAR-Tass.
Washington and Kiev have both claimed they possess proof that Russia had been supporting the Ukrainian insurgency through the provision of military equipment. In the wake of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 on July 17, which claimed 298 lives, these accusations grew to a fever pitch.
Pillay said that both the separatists and Ukrainian troops were at fault for using heavy weaponry against civilians through the course of the ongoing conflict, which the UN estimates has claimed more than 1,000 lives since mid-April.
Referring to the downing of MH17 as an "attack on civilians," Pillay said the use of such weapons as the Buk missile system, which is believed to have been used in the attack, constitutes a violation of international law.
Russia's Defense Ministry has denied claims that Moscow had provided support for the rebels, and hit back against such accusations earlier this month with claims that its satellites had detected a? Ukrainian fighter jet near the? Malaysia Airlines plane at? the time of? the incident.
See also:
Kiev Government Tells Ukrainians Not to Talk to Russian Reporters
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.