Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (OSCE SMM) Alexander Hug has reported the failure of attempts to de-mine and withdraw weapons in eastern Ukraine and believes that this may be a sign of an upcoming escalation of the conflict.

"OSCE SMM Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Hug: Failure to de-mine, withdraw weapons and disengage, and continued preparedness, constitutes an early warning, as sides, instead of ending the violence, get ready for more," the OSCE SMM wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

Hug visits eastern Ukraine from January 21 to January 25, 2018. It is expected that during the visit Hug will join OSCE observer patrols along the contact line and also hold a series of press briefings.