15:43 16.01.2016

OSCE SMM opens forward patrol base in Stanytsia Luhanska

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OSCE SMM opens forward patrol base in Stanytsia Luhanska

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) on Saturday opened a new forward patrol base in Luhansk region, which is the mission's eighth such base in Donbas.

The new base in Stanytsia Luhanska will extend the monitors' presence in the areas where most incidents take place, thereby enabling the mission to follow up on the incidents faster and more efficiently, the OSCE press service reported.

"As with the other Forward Patrol Bases established by the SMM earlier, this Base in Stanytsia Luhanska will help us enhance our monitoring and reporting, and contribute to easing tensions in the east," Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug said.

Forward patrol bases differ from SMM offices or hubs as they are located closer to the contact line and accommodate a smaller number of monitors who are rotated on a weekly basis.

Previously the SMM opened forward patrol bases in the following locations - four in government-controlled areas: Volnovakha, Krasnoarmiysk, Svitlodarsk (Donetsk region) and in Novoaidar (Luhansk region); as well as three in areas outside of government control: in Stakhanov (Luhansk region), and in Horlivka and Debaltseve (Donetsk region).

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