Fighting returns to Donbas cities, districts - OSCE mission head

The situation in eastern Ukraine has deteriorated significantly since the end of April, says Ertugrul Apakan, the head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM).

Speaking at a press conference in Vienna, Apakan said that the situation in eastern Ukraine has worsened since his last report before the OSCE Permanent Council on April 23. The number of ceasefire breaches on both sides has risen, violence spread further, fighting returned to the cities and districts which had been quiet for several months, Apakan said.

The SMM chief also said that the civilian population in the conflict zone are at risk from damaged water-supply infrastructure, the OSCE SMM wrote on its official Facebook page.

The SMM is initiating discontinuation of local skirmishes in order conduct demining and repair, Apakan said.