The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission has recorded fewer shelling incidents and explosions in Donbas compared with the previous reporting period.

Over the past week, observers recorded 414 explosions of mortar mines, tank projectiles, artillery shells and multiple rocket launcher ammo, OSCE SMM Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug told a Friday press briefing in Kyiv. He also said that the mission had seen a decline in the use of weapons forbidden by the Minsk Agreements.

Any kind of de-escalation is welcome but the current intensity of violence is still inadmissible, he said.

Any shots or explosions of projectiles and any mine which is not detected or not removed is not normal, what is normal is the ceasefire and the pullout of heavy weapons, he said.