Armed groups in east Ukraine are violating the rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens, The United Nations announced on Friday.

The United Nations expressed dismay at the increasing number of abductions and murders in east Ukraine, as well as the beatings and kidnappings of journalists, activists and politicians, The New York Times reports. 

"Primarily as a result of the actions of organized armed groups, the continuation of the rhetoric of hatred and propaganda fuels the escalation of the crisis in Ukraine, with a potential of spiraling out of control," the United Nations said in a report.

The unchecked power of armed militants is undermining the individual rights of the regions' citizens, the U.N. said. 

"The report describes the deeply disturbing deterioration of the human rights situation in the east and south of the country," Ivan Simonovic, the assistant secretary general for human rights, said in Kiev.

According to Simonovic, at least 127 people have been killed in "violent clashes and the security and law enforcement operations in the east and south."

"This is deeply disturbing," he added. 

He also said the armed militants have perpetuated hate speech in addition to violence. 

The United Nations has documented 112 cases of unlawful detention of individuals, and the whereabouts of 49 people are still not known. Simonovic called on Ukrainian authorities to launch an investigation into the deaths of 48 people during violent clashes in Odessa on May 2. 

The report, which was created by a 34-member team of human rights experts, said the "Slovyansk self-defense unit" is to blame for the human rights abuses in Donetsk, in addition to other pro-Russian separatists who waged violence at pro-Ukraine rallies. 

"In most cases, local police did nothing to prevent violence, while in some cases it openly cooperated with the attackers," the report said.

The report also expressed concern about the kidnapping of journalists and activists; 17 unlawful detentions have occurred in Donetsk alone. The United Nations said that freedom of speech has been threatened, hate speech has increased and journalists are frequently harassed. 

The report warned that there could be an increase in harassment and attacks on candidates who are participating in elections on May 25, which were called by Ukraine's interim government. The report warns that violence and intimidation on the day of the elections could lead to more violent conflict. 

Navi Pillay, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said those who have influence over pro-Russia groups in the east should "do their utmost to rein in these groups who seem bent on tearing the country apart."

The report's call for an investigation into the May 2 conflict in Odessa is meant to determine who began the blaze that set fire to a trade union building occupied by pro-Russia activists, which killed more than 40 people. Around 200 people were also wounded in the fire and in violent clashes between nationalists and pro-Russia separatists that day. 

Additionally, the report expressed concern over the harassment of Tatars and other residents who have not applied for Russian citizenship in Crimea, which was suddenly annexed by Russia in April.