The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Tuesday urged all sides to halt the dangerous escalation in fighting in eastern Ukraine.

Hussein said in a statement that several public zones such as bus stops, schools and hospitals had become battlegrounds in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in clear breach of international humanitarian law which governs the conduct of armed conflicts.

"The death toll now exceeds 5,358 people, and another 12,235 have been wounded since mid-April last year. In just the three weeks up to Feb. 1, at least 224 civilians have been killed and 545 wounded," he added.

The UN human rights chief warned any further escalation would prove catastrophic for the 5.2 million people living in the midst of conflict in eastern Ukraine.

He urged all states with influence to work together to ensure that parties to the conflict immediately cease hostilities and abide by earlier ceasefire decisions.

"The protection of civilians by all parties to the conflict must be of the utmost priority," Zeid said. "All violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law must be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators must be promptly brought to justice."

The High Commissioner also expressed concern about the implications of the harsh winter months on civilians in conflict-affected areas, given shortages of food and water and power cuts.

He added the prolongation of the conflict would make the humanitarian situation untenable for millions of people.

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