The NGO analyzed data provided by the Ombudsman's Office.

Mortality at checkpoints set up along the line of contact between the warring sides in eastern Ukraine's Donbas in 2019 increased by 40% year-on-year.

That's according to East Human Rights Group, whose experts conducted a comparative analysis of fatal cases at checkpoints, earlier published by the Ukrainian Ombudsman's Office.

In 2018, nine people died at checkpoints across Donetsk region, and 15 people – in the past year.

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In Luhansk region, respectively, it was 10 and 12 people.

"So the official reports show the mortality rate increased by 40% in 2019 against 2018," human rights activists noted, recalling the need to ensure constant presence of ER teams at crossing checkpoints.

As UNIAN reported earlier, a civilian man died while crossing into the government-controlled territory at a checkpoint in Stanytsia Luhanska January 21.