As the United Nations Security Council convened its second urgent session this week on the situation in Ukraine, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated his grave concern over the rising tensions in the country’s east and south, particularly events in the crisis-gripped city of Slovyansk, where two Ukrainian military helicopters were shot down overnight and a group of European observes captured on 26 April remains in detention.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned the detention of international military monitors and staff in Ukraine, and demanded that they be released “immediately, unconditionally and unharmed.”

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply concerned about continued violence in eastern Ukraine, which has led to loss of life, further instability and which is contributing to a climate of fear and anxiety, his spokesperson said today.

The ongoing unrest in eastern Ukraine, if not addressed as a matter of priority, risks seriously destabilizing the rest of the country, a senior United Nations human rights official warned the Security Council today, as he also urged steps to counter misinformation and bring to an end all incitement to hatred, discrimination and violence.