The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has demanded that Russia guarantee safe and unimpeded access of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM) to Ukraine to the entire territory of Donbas.

"We demand once again that Russia [...] abandon the practice of areas closed to OSCE monitoring and guarantee the OSCE SMM's safe and unimpeded access to the entire territory of certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including the section of the Ukrainian-Russian border temporarily not controlled by Ukraine," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday in the wake of the OSCE SMM report entitled 'Restrictions of SMM's freedom of movement and other impediments to fulfillment of its mandate (January-June).'

"Such actions by Russia grossly violate Clause 4 of the Minsk Protocol on ensuring the permanent monitoring of the Ukrainian-Russian border and verification by the OSCE with the creation of security zones in the border regions of Ukraine and the Russian Federation," it said.

Ertugrul Apakan, the OSCE SMM chief monitor, earlier called on the conflicting parties in eastern Ukraine to respect the SMM's freedom of movement.