Yannis Behrakis/Reuters
In a new report on conditions in Ukraine, the United Nations declared that the human rights situation is continuing to deteriorate in Ukraine, fast. According to the UN, killings, abductions, beatings, and the jailing of politicians, activists, and journalists have continued unabated. “Primarily as a result of the actions of organized armed groups, the continuation of the rhetoric of hatred and propaganda fuels the escalation of the crisis in Ukraine, with a potential of spiraling out of control,” the United Nations said. The report, which was put together by a 34-person team on the ground in Ukraine, singled out in particular the “Slovyansk self-defense unit" in eastern Ukraine, which is a pro-Russian group that has been targeting journalists. It also called out Ukraine’s security service for abductions of pro-Russian activists.