The mandate of the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) working at the Donetsk and Gukovo checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian border in Russia's Rostov region expires on October 23, a regional government spokesman told Interfax on Friday.

"The day before the key date, on Wednesday, October 22, the OSCE Permanent Council will adopt a decision in coordination with the Foreign Ministry of Russia whether to prolong the mandate of these observers, whether to expand the list of checkpoints where mission staff will be present or whether to terminate this mission in the Rostov region," he said.

All checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian border are functioning normally.