The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said the "horrendous" downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in conflict ridden eastern Ukraine is a violation of international law.
"This violation of international law, given the prevailing circumstances, may amount to a war crime," Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay said on Monday, according to the U.N.
Pillay also called for a "prompt, thorough, effective, independent and impartial investigation" into the tragedy that killed 198 people.
Flight MH17 was headed for Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down in the rebel-controlled region of Donetsk on July 17. Pro-Russian separatists in the region have been blamed for sending the surface-to-air missile that struck the Boeing 777, however the rebels have denied having any role in the incident.
Pillay's comments come right after fighting resumed between rebels and Ukrainian forces over the weekend, preventing investigators from reaching the crash site to determine the cause, USA Today reported.
The fighting has also threatened the lives of residents in eastern Ukraine, killing 1,129 people and displacing over 100,000 since the conflict began in April, according a new U.N. report on the conflict.
"Both sides must take great care to prevent more civilians from being killed or injured," Pillay said.
Ukrainian and rebel forces have obtained and stockpiled weapons as the fighting intensified, including tanks, rockets and missiles, according to a team of field monitors from the U.N.'s Human Rights Monitoring Mission. Pillay urged for an end to the human rights violations before warning the perpetrators will be caught.
"I would like to stress to all those involved in the conflict, including foreign fighters, that every effort will be made to ensure that anyone committing serious violations of international law including war crimes will be brought to justice, no matter who they are."
