"All sides in this conflict have shown disregard for civilian lives and are blatantly violating their international obligations," said Salil Shetty, Amnesty International's Secretary General.
Comment: Kiev has undoubtedly committed war crimes. Chances are the rebels have, too, based on some reports. But this statement on its own sheds no light on what's really going on, where one side (Kiev) is clearly the aggressor.
The conclusion was drawn on the basis of multiple interviews conducted on the ground in eastern Ukraine by Amnesty International researchers. They spoke to both people fleeing the conflict zones and to refugees, who have already found shelter in Russia's Rostov region.
"Civilians from these areas told Amnesty International that the Ukrainian government forces subjected their neighborhoods to heavy shelling. Their testimonies suggest that the attacks were indiscriminate and may amount to war crimes," the watchdog's statement reads.
Those interviewed also accused both the anti-government fighters and militants in the volunteer battalions, fighting alongside the government troops of abductions and tortures.
Comment: Amnesty International, despite the good work it has done, is hardly an unbiased, impartial body. See: Amnesty International: Imperialist Tool